Laciniate ligament
Encyclopedia
The laciniate ligament is a strong fibrous band, extending from the tibial malleolus above to the margin of the calcaneus below, converting a series of bony grooves in this situation into canals for the passage of the tendons of the Flexor muscles and the posterior tibial vessels and tibial nerve
into the sole of the foot
.
It is continuous by its upper border with the deep fascia
of the leg, and by its lower border with the plantar aponeurosis
and the fibers of origin of the Abductor hallucis muscle
.
Enumerated from the medial side, the four canals which it forms transmit the tendon of the Tibialis posterior; the tendon of the Flexor digitorum longus; the posterior tibial vessels and tibial nerve
, which run through a broad space beneath the ligament; and lastly, in a canal formed partly by the talus
, the tendon of the Flexor hallucis longus.
The entrapment of the tibial nerve beneath the flexor retinaculum causes the tarsal tunnel syndrome
, characterized by pain, numbness and tingling of the medial plantar surface of the foot. The situation is aggravated by standing and walking, and often worse at night.
Tibial nerve
The tibial nerve is a branch of the sciatic nerve. The tibial nerve passes through the popliteal fossa to pass below the arch of soleus.In the popliteal fossa the nerve gives off branches to gastrocnemius, popliteus, soleus and plantaris muscles, an articular branch to the knee joint, and a...
into the sole of the foot
Foot
The foot is an anatomical structure found in many vertebrates. It is the terminal portion of a limb which bears weight and allows locomotion. In many animals with feet, the foot is a separate organ at the terminal part of the leg made up of one or more segments or bones, generally including claws...
.
It is continuous by its upper border with the deep fascia
Deep fascia
Deep fascia is a layer of fascia which can surround individual muscles, and divide groups of muscles into compartments....
of the leg, and by its lower border with the plantar aponeurosis
Aponeurosis
Aponeuroses are layers of flat broad tendons. They have a shiny, whitish-silvery color, are histologically similar to tendons, and are very sparingly supplied with blood vessels and nerves. When dissected, aponeuroses are papery, and peel off by sections...
and the fibers of origin of the Abductor hallucis muscle
Abductor hallucis muscle
The Abductor hallucis lies along the medial border of the foot and covers the origins of the plantar vessels and nerves.It arises from the medial process of the tuberosity of the calcaneus, from the laciniate ligament, from the plantar aponeurosis, and from the intermuscular septum between it and...
.
Enumerated from the medial side, the four canals which it forms transmit the tendon of the Tibialis posterior; the tendon of the Flexor digitorum longus; the posterior tibial vessels and tibial nerve
Tibial nerve
The tibial nerve is a branch of the sciatic nerve. The tibial nerve passes through the popliteal fossa to pass below the arch of soleus.In the popliteal fossa the nerve gives off branches to gastrocnemius, popliteus, soleus and plantaris muscles, an articular branch to the knee joint, and a...
, which run through a broad space beneath the ligament; and lastly, in a canal formed partly by the talus
Talus bone
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, the tendon of the Flexor hallucis longus.
The entrapment of the tibial nerve beneath the flexor retinaculum causes the tarsal tunnel syndrome
Tarsal tunnel syndrome
Tarsal tunnel syndrome , also known as posterior tibial neuralgia, is compression neuropathy and a painful foot condition in which the tibial nerve is impinged and compressed as it travels through the tarsal tunnel. TTS is a compression syndrome of the tibial nerve within the tarsal tunnel...
, characterized by pain, numbness and tingling of the medial plantar surface of the foot. The situation is aggravated by standing and walking, and often worse at night.