To identify the muscles of the leg, it is helpful to first identify the tendons at the ankle and then trace them proximally to the bellies of the muscles. The extensor retinaculum may be cut to facilitate this process.

On the anterior aspect of the ankle, identify the tendons, nerves, and vessels from the anterior compartment that cross the anterior surface of the ankle. From medial to lateral, they are the:

• tendon of tibialis anterior muscle
  
• tendon of extensor hallucis longus muscle
  
• deep peroneal nerve
  
• anterior tibial vessels
  
• tendon of extensor digitorum longus muscle