Muscles of the Lower Leg

Fibularis (Peroneus) Longus

Action: plantar flexes/ Everts foot | Origin: Head and upper portion of Fibula | Insertion: 1st Metatarsal/ Medial Cuneiform

Fibularis (Peroneus) Brevis

Action: plantar flexes/ everts foot | Origin: Distal portion of the Fibular shaft | Insertion: proximal end of 5th Metatarsal

Tibialis Anterior

Action: prime mover of dorsiflexion/ inverts foot/ supports longitudinal arch of the foot | Origin: Lateral condyle/ upper 2/3 of Tibia/ interosseous membrane | Insertion: Inferior surface of 1st cuneiform/1st metatarsal

Extensor Digitorum Longus

Action: prime mover of toe extension/ dorsiflexes foot | Origin: Lateral condyle of Tibia/ proximal 3/4 of Fibula/interosseous membrane | Insertion: Middle and Distal phalanges of toes 2-5

Extensor Hallucis Longus

Action: extends great toe/ dorsiflexes foot | Origin: anteromedial shaft of the Fibula/ interosseous membrane | Insertion: Distal phalanx of Hallux

Gastrocnemius

Action: plantar flexes foot (when knee is extended)/ crosses knee joint/ Flexes knee/ leg (when foot is dorsiflexed) | Origin: Medial/ lateral condyles of Femur | Insertion: Calcaneus

Soleus

Action: plantar flexion/ locomotion | Origin: Proximal portion of Tibia/ Fibula/ interosseous membrane | Insertion: Calcaneus

Popliteus

Action: flexes/ rotates leg/ unlocks knee (when knee flexion begins) | Origin: Lateral condyle of the Femur/ lateral meniscus | Insertion: Proximal Tibia

Tibialis Posterior

Action: prime mover of foot Inversion/ plantar flexes foot/ stabilizes longitudinal arch of foot | Origin: superior portion of Tibia/ Fibula/ interosseous membrane | Insertion: Several Tarsals/ Metatarsals 2-4

Flexor Digitorum Longus

Action: flexes toes / plantar flexes and inverts foot | Origin: Posterior surface of the Tibia | Insertion: distal Phalanges of toes 2-5

Flexor Hallucis Longus/ Brevis

Action: flexes Hallux/ plantar flex and inverts foot | Origin: middle Fibular shaft and interosseous membrane | Insertion: distal phalanx of hallux