Learn: Ankle and Foot Muscles: Origins and Insertions for Key Lower Limb Movements

Tibialis anterior — Origin

Lateral condyle and superior 2/3 of the lateral tibia; adjacent interosseous membrane

Tibialis anterior — Insertion

Medial and plantar surfaces of the medial cuneiform; base of the 1st metatarsal

Extensor hallucis longus — Origin

Middle portion of the anterior fibula; adjacent interosseous membrane

Extensor hallucis longus — Insertion

Dorsal base of the distal phalanx of the great toe

Extensor digitorum longus — Origin

Lateral condyle of tibia; superior 3/4 of anterior fibula; adjacent interosseous membrane

Extensor digitorum longus — Insertion

Extensor expansions of toes 2-5, extending to the middle and distal phalanges

Fibularis tertius — Origin

Distal 1/3 of the anterior fibula; adjacent interosseous membrane

Fibularis tertius — Insertion

Dorsal surface of the base of the 5th metatarsal

Fibularis longus — Origin

Head and superior 2/3 of the lateral fibula

Fibularis longus — Insertion

Plantar surface of the base of the 1st metatarsal; medial cuneiform

Fibularis brevis — Origin

Distal 2/3 of the lateral fibula

Fibularis brevis — Insertion

Tuberosity at the base of the 5th metatarsal

Gastrocnemius — Origin

Lateral head: lateral femoral condyle; medial head: posterior medial femoral condyle, superior to the condyle

Gastrocnemius — Insertion

Posterior calcaneus via the calcaneal (Achilles) tendon

Soleus — Origin

Posterior head and proximal 1/3 of fibula; soleal line and medial border of tibia

Soleus — Insertion

Posterior calcaneus via the calcaneal (Achilles) tendon

Plantaris — Origin

Inferior part of lateral supracondylar line of femur; oblique popliteal ligament

Plantaris — Insertion

Medial posterior calcaneus, usually via the calcaneal (Achilles) tendon

Tibialis posterior — Origin

Interosseous membrane; posterior tibia inferior to soleal line; posterior proximal fibula

Tibialis posterior — Insertion

Tuberosity of navicular; also medial cuneiform, intermediate cuneiform, lateral cuneiform, cuboid, and bases of 2nd-4th metatarsals

Flexor digitorum longus — Origin

Medial portion of posterior tibia, inferior to soleal line

Flexor digitorum longus — Insertion

Plantar bases of distal phalanges of toes 2-5

Flexor hallucis longus — Origin

Inferior 2/3 of posterior fibula; adjacent interosseous membrane

Flexor hallucis longs- Insertion

Plantar base of distal phalanx of the great toe