Which two tendons are attached to the lateral malleolar groove?

Which two tendons are attached to the lateral malleolar groove?

• A. fibular brevis and fibularis longus
• B. tibialis anterior and extensor digitorum longus
• C. gastrocnemius and soleus
• D. plantaris and popliteus

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that the tendons of the fibularis (peroneus) muscles pass in the groove behind the lateral ankle bone, the retromalleolar groove. The two tendons that course through this area are the fibularis longus and the fibularis brevis. They travel behind the lateral malleolus as they move from the fibula into the foot, with the longus wrapping under the foot to its distal insertions and the brevis attaching to the base of the fifth metatarsal. Other pairs listed don’t travel in this groove: the front of the ankle is dominated by tibialis anterior and extensor digitorum longus, while gastrocnemius, soleus, plantaris, and popliteus are not the tendons that run in this lateral retromalleolar path.

The key idea is that the tendons of the fibularis (peroneus) muscles pass in the groove behind the lateral ankle bone, the retromalleolar groove. The two tendons that course through this area are the fibularis longus and the fibularis brevis. They travel behind the lateral malleolus as they move from the fibula into the foot, with the longus wrapping under the foot to its distal insertions and the brevis attaching to the base of the fifth metatarsal. Other pairs listed don’t travel in this groove: the front of the ankle is dominated by tibialis anterior and extensor digitorum longus, while gastrocnemius, soleus, plantaris, and popliteus are not the tendons that run in this lateral retromalleolar path.