Tarsal tunnel

Tarsal Tunnel

Tarsal tunnel is located on the inner side of the foot, specifically near the ankle, that connects the tibia with the foot with a fibrous band. Most of the nerves, and blood vessels(the tibial nerve, posterior tibial artery and tendons of the tibialis posterior, flexor digitorum longus and flexor hallicus longus muscles, passing deep to the flexor retinaculum) that supply the foot travel through this tunnel and excess pressure in this tunnel can lead to what is called [[tarsal tunnel syndrome.

Tarsal tunnel

Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Artery	Nerve	Action	Antagonist
popliteus	middle facet of lateral surface of lateral femoral condyle	posterior tibia under tibial condyles	popliteal artery	tibial nerve	medially rotates and flexes knee
tarsal tunnel
flexor hallucis longus	posterior surface of upper 1/3 of fibula	base of distal phalanx of hallux	fibular artery (peroneal branch of posterior tibial artery	tibial nerve, S1, S2 nerve roots	flexes all joints of big toe, plantarflexes ankle	extensor hallucis longus
flexor digitorum longus	medial tibia	distal phalanges of lateral four digits	posterior tibial artery	tibial nerve	flexes toes	extensor digitorum longus, extensor digitorum brevis
tibialis posterior	tibia, fibula	navicular, medial cuneiform			inverts foot, plantarflexes foot at ankle	tibialis anterior

Table adapted from Wikipedia

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  The mucous sheaths of the tendons around the ankle. Medial aspect. The flexor retinaculum is labelled as laciniate lig.

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  Dissection image. Around the medial malleolus seeing from below.

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  Dissection video (41 s)

See also

• Tarsal tunnel syndrome
• Carpal tunnel