Mnemonic

Tom, Dick and Very Nervous Harry

A mnemonic for tarsal tunnel contents from anterior to posterior.

Expansion

Tibialis posterior, flexor Digitorum longus, posterior tibial Artery and Veins, tibial Nerve, flexor Hallucis longus

Mnemonic

“Tom, Dick And Very Nervous Harry”, running behind the medial malleolus from front to back through the tarsal tunnel:

  • T - Tibialis posterior tendon
  • D - flexor Digitorum longus tendon
  • A - posterior tibial Artery
  • V - posterior tibial Vein
  • N - tibial Nerve
  • H - flexor Hallucis longus tendon

Compression here causes tarsal tunnel syndrome, the ankle equivalent of carpal tunnel syndrome, with burning pain in the sole and a positive Tinel’s sign behind the medial malleolus.

Expansion

From anterior to posterior:

  • Tom - Tibialis posterior
  • Dick - Flexor digitorum longus
  • And Very - Posterior tibial artery and veins
  • Nervous - Tibial nerve
  • Harry - Flexor hallucis longus