Tarsal tunnel

The tarsal tunnel is a passage found along the inner leg underneath the medial malleolus of the ankle.

Tarsal tunnel
Medial view of the ankle. The structures within the tarsal tunnel are depicted.
Dissection video (1 min 55 s)
Details
Identifiers
Latin	canalis tarsi
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

Structure

The roof of the tarsal tunnel is formed by the flexor retinaculum of the foot.^[1] The floor of the tarsal tunnel is formed by the medial malleolus and the calcaneus.^[1]

Contents

The tibial nerve, posterior tibial artery, posterior tibial vein, and flexor tendons travel in a bundle along this pathway through the tarsal tunnel, in the following order from anteromedial to posterolateral:

• Tibialis posterior tendon.^[2]
• Flexor digitorum longus tendon.^[2]
• Posterior tibial artery.^[2]
• Posterior tibial vein.^[1]
• Tibial nerve.^[2]
• Flexor hallucis longus tendon.^[2]

In the tunnel, the tibial nerve splits into three different paths.^[3] The medial calcaneal branches of the tibial nerve continues to the heel, while the medial plantar nerve and the lateral plantar nerve continue on to the bottom of the foot.^[3]

Clinical significance

Tarsal tunnel syndrome

Main article: Tarsal tunnel syndrome

Tarsal tunnel syndrome is the most commonly reported nerve entrapment of the ankle. It is analogous to carpal tunnel syndrome in the wrist. It is caused by compression of the tibial nerve underneath the flexor retinaculum of the foot.^[1] People with tarsal tunnel syndrome have pain in the plantar aspect of the foot mostly at night. Weight bearing increases pain and weakness is found on intrinsic foot muscles with positive Tinel sign at the tunnel. There is no tenderness present on the plantar foot, though this is typically the primary site of complaint.

Additional images

• 
  The mucous sheaths of the tendons around the ankle. Medial aspect. The flexor retinaculum is labelled as laciniate lig.
• 
  Dissection image. Around the medial malleolus seeing from below.
• Dissection video (41 s)

See also

This article uses anatomical terminology.

• Tarsal tunnel syndrome
• Carpal tunnel

References

1. Lowe, Whitney; Chaitow, Leon (2009-01-01), Lowe, Whitney; Chaitow, Leon (eds.), "Chapter 6 - Foot, ankle, and lower leg", Orthopedic Massage (Second Edition), Edinburgh: Mosby, pp. 77–115, doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-06812-6.00006-4, ISBN 978-0-443-06812-6, retrieved 2021-03-02
2. Minieka, Michael; Nishida, Takashi (2005-01-01), Benzon, Honorio T.; Raja, Srinivasa N.; Molloy, Robert E.; Liu, Spencer S. (eds.), "Chapter 54 - Entrapment Neuropathies", Essentials of Pain Medicine and Regional Anesthesia (Second Edition), Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone, pp. 426–432, doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-06651-1.50058-7, ISBN 978-0-443-06651-1, retrieved 2021-02-21
3. Kaufmann, Petra (2003-01-01), "Tibial Nerve", in Aminoff, Michael J.; Daroff, Robert B. (eds.), Encyclopedia of the Neurological Sciences, New York: Academic Press, pp. 537–539, doi:10.1016/b0-12-226870-9/02054-2, ISBN 978-0-12-226870-0, retrieved 2021-03-02

External links

• Description at curtin.edu.au
• http://www.ithaca.edu/faculty/lahr/LE2000/ankle%20pics/5Asupmed.jpg Archived 2012-02-12 at the Wayback Machine