Lower limb: plantaris tendon: practice question

A Anatomy question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Anatomy · Lower limb: plantaris tendon

Sample item

A surgeon harvests a long, thin tendon from the calf for use as a graft. Between which two muscles does it run before reaching the medial side of the calcaneal tendon?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Gastrocnemius and soleus

Plantaris arises from the lateral supracondylar line of the femur and its long slender tendon runs obliquely between gastrocnemius and soleus, then along the medial side of the calcaneal tendon to the calcaneus. Its tendon is a popular graft because it is expendable.

Option by option

  • A. Fibularis longus and fibularis brevis

    Fibularis longus and brevis lie in the lateral compartment.

  • B. Soleus and flexor hallucis longus

    Soleus and flexor hallucis longus are deeper and do not enclose the plantaris tendon.

  • C. Gastrocnemius and soleus (correct)

    Correct. Plantaris lies between the gastrocnemius and soleus.

  • D. Tibialis posterior and flexor digitorum longus

    Tibialis posterior and flexor digitorum longus lie in the deep posterior compartment.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Anatomy questions

Questions about this Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is C, Gastrocnemius and soleus. Plantaris arises from the lateral supracondylar line of the femur and its long slender tendon runs obliquely between gastrocnemius and soleus, then along the medial side of the calcaneal tendon to the calcaneus.

Why is "Fibularis longus and fibularis brevis" not the answer?

Fibularis longus and brevis lie in the lateral compartment.

Why is "Soleus and flexor hallucis longus" not the answer?

Soleus and flexor hallucis longus are deeper and do not enclose the plantaris tendon.

Why is "Tibialis posterior and flexor digitorum longus" not the answer?

Tibialis posterior and flexor digitorum longus lie in the deep posterior compartment.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Lower limb: plantaris tendon in Anatomy. Its tendon is a popular graft because it is expendable.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Lower limb: plantaris tendon?

Learn every nerve by its route, its muscles and what a lesion looks like at the bedside. That one habit answers a large share of questions. Then use the flashcards and the other Anatomy questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.