A patient presents with inability to invert the foot, numbness over the sole, and pain behind the medial malleolus after wearing a tight cast. The tarsal tunnel contains all of the following EXCEPT:

• A Tibialis posterior tendon
• B Flexor digitorum longus tendon
• C Posterior tibial artery and tibial nerve
• D Peroneus longus tendon ✓

Explanation

The tarsal tunnel is formed between the medial malleolus and the flexor retinaculum. Its contents (mnemonic Tom, Dick and Harry) include: Tibialis posterior tendon, flexor Digitorum longus tendon, posterior tibial Artery, tibial Nerve, and flexor Hallucis longus tendon — from anterior to posterior. The peroneus longus (and brevis) tendons pass through the lateral compartment behind the lateral malleolus, not the tarsal tunnel.

Reference: BD Chaurasia's Human Anatomy, 8th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.