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Tibialis anterior

Contents

Anatomy

 

Tibialis anterior - anterior view
Tibialis anterior - anteriomedial view
Tibialis anterior - lateral view

General information

  • This section is strictly limited to anatomy, you might be looking for clinical relevant information which is found under the clinical chapters -- muscles section, click here to go to that page

Position

  • Superficial

Origin

  • Lateral condyl tibia
  • Lateral surface of tibia
    • Proximal 1/2
  • Membrana interossea
    • Proximal 2/3
  • Deep fascia of the leg
  • Septum intermusculare laterale

Insertion

  • Os cuneiforme
    • Medial and plantar aspect
  • Basis 1 metatarsal

Main function

  • Ankle
    • Dorsiflexion
    • Inversion

Nerve innervation

  • Segmental
    • L4-S1
  • Peripheral
    • Deep part of fibular nerve

Arterial supply

  • Anterior apsect of tibial artery

Palpation of muscle belly

  • Patient position
    • Supine
  • Place your hand just lateral to the tibia
  • Ask the patient to perform a dorsiflexion and inversion of the foot
  • Feel for contraction of the muscle

Palpation of the tendon

  • Patient position
    • Supine
  • Ask the patient to perform a dorsiflexion and inversion of the foot
  • Look and feel for the tendon anteriorly and medially at the ankle
  • The tendon is close to the tendon of extensor hallucis longus which is just lateral to the tibialis anterior tendon
  • To seperate the two of them, ask the patient to alternate between dorsiflexion and inversion and dorsiflexoin and extension of the big toe
  • Another method which can be used, is to flex the big toe under the testing, this will help inactivate the extensor hallucis longus

Strength test

  • Patient position
    • Sitting
  • Position the patient's foot in dorsiflexion and inversion of the ankle, and flexion of the big toe
  • Give resistance to the medial aspect of the foot, on the dorsal surface in direction of plantarflexion and eversion
    • The patient is giving force towards dorsiflexion and inversion
  • Weakness may lead to the muscle going into a positoin of slight eversion, this may be perceived as a form for 'drop foot' and give a tendency to foor pronation
  • Note, weakness of the tibialis anterior can be found in connection with pronated foot position, such a weakness is rarely seen in congenital flat foot