Tarsal tunnel


The tarsal tunnel is found along the inner leg posterior to the medial malleolus.

Structure

The tarsal tunnel is made up of bone on the inside and the flexor retinaculum on the outside.

Function

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 antero-medial to postero-lateral:
In the tunnel, the nerve splits into three different paths. One nerve continues to the heel, the other two continue on to the bottom of the foot.

Clinical significance

Tarsal tunnel syndrome

is the most commonly reported nerve entrapment of the ankle and is analogous to the carpal tunnel of the wrist. 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