A heavyset middle-aged insurance salesman,who doesn't exercise often,accepts his friend's invitation to a pickup basketball game.When attempting a jump shot,he falls to the ground in pain,grasping at the calf of his leg.There is an enormous bulge in his leg immediately below the popliteal fossa,and he is unable to plantar flex that foot.Most likely he has injured his __________ and the bulge is __________.
A) quadriceps tendon;his rectus femoris
B) calcaneal tendon;his triceps surae
C) patellar ligament;his fibularis longus
D) tibia;a previously undetected bone tumor
E) hamstrings;a large hematoma (blood clot)

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms described suggest a rupture of the calcaneal tendon (also known as the Achilles tendon), which is responsible for plantar flexion of the foot. The bulge is likely a result of the tendon contracting proximally after it ruptures. This injury is common in middle-aged individuals who don't exercise regularly and can occur during activities that involve sudden or forceful contraction of the calf muscles, such as jump shots in basketball.

A Heavyset Middle-Aged Insurance Salesman,who Doesn't Exercise Often,accepts His Friend's