Question

A postal worker has been attacked by a dog during her mail delivery route. The patient is a 54-year-old female with several dog bites on her lower extremities and left arm. The worst of these bites is located on the back of her right leg just above the ankle. How can you explain the location of this injury using anatomical landmarks?

A. The bite is located on the posterior aspect of the calf distal to the knee.
B. The bite is located on the posterior aspect of the calf just proximal to the knee.
C. The bite is located on the anterior aspect of the calf just distal to the knee.
D. The bite is located on the anterior aspect of the calf just proximal to the knee.

Answer 1

The dog bite described is on the posterior aspect of the calf and is distal to the knee. This location is on the back side of the leg, towards the ankle but below the knee.

Step-by-step explanation:

The injury sustained by the postal worker is described using anatomical landmarks in the following way: The bite is located on the posterior aspect of the calf distal to the knee. This means that the wound is on the back side of the leg, in the calf region, and below (towards the feet) the knee. The term posterior is used to denote the back of the body, while distal refers to a point further away from the center of the body or the point of attachment. The calf is the area of the lower limb between the knee and the ankle, and the description does not mention the wound being near the knee, so it can't be proximal. Therefore, the most accurate description of the location of the injury is the first option (A).