Posted by lae2 on August 15, 2013 at 16:29:48:
In Reply to: Re: Lower Limb T/F posted by Gulu Gulu on August 14, 2013 at 22:29:12:
: So #28 is false. Because there are only 5 different muscles on the dorsum of the foot (extensor digitorum longus, extensor digitorum brevis, extensor hallucis longus, extensor hallucis brevis, and dorsal interosseous muscles).
: Compare this to the 10 different muscles on the sole of the foot: flexor digitorum brevis, abductor digiti minimi, abductor hallucis longus, quadratus plantae, flexor digitorum longus, flexor hallucis longus, lumbricles, adductor hallucis, flexor hallucis brevis, and flexor digiti minimi brevis.
: More muscles/tendons mean finer motor control :D
No, that's not it. Maybe a bit. The key lies in the extensor hood that tethers the long and short extensors. The extensors can not act independently. Extension is often part of a withdrawal (from noxious stimuli) movement. You don't need fine movement to withdraw from a seriously hot object. On the other foot, you do need fine movement to build a watch; whether you do so with your toes or your fingers. The long and short flexors act with more independence. Their tendons are not tethored. The short bifurcates and the long runs through.