College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia (CMTBC) Practice Exam

Which muscles comprise the superficial posterior compartment of the leg?

1. Tibialis posterior, popliteus, flexor hallucis longus

2. Gastrocnemius, soleus, plantaris

3. Flexor digitorum longus, tibialis anterior

4. Peroneus longus, peroneus brevis

The correct answer is: Gastrocnemius, soleus, plantaris

The superficial posterior compartment of the leg is correctly identified by the presence of the gastrocnemius, soleus, and plantaris muscles. These muscles are primarily responsible for plantarflexion of the foot at the ankle, allowing actions such as standing on tiptoe and pushing off during walking or running. The gastrocnemius is a large muscle that originates from the femur and crosses the knee joint, contributing to its function in both knee flexion and ankle plantarflexion. The soleus lies beneath the gastrocnemius and plays a vital role in maintaining posture and walking, particularly in providing stability. The plantaris is a smaller muscle that assists in knee flexion and plantarflexion, although its role is not as significant as the other two muscles. In contrast, the other options consist of muscles that either belong to different compartments or serve different functions. The tibialis posterior, popliteus, and flexor hallucis longus are located in the deep posterior compartment, while flexor digitorum longus and tibialis anterior pertain to different actions involving toe flexion and dorsiflexion, respectively. The peroneus longus and peroneus brevis belong to the lateral compartment and are primarily involved in eversion