Bones and Muscles of Leg and Foot

Tibia

Larger bone of the leg

Tibial tuberosity

Attachment site for the patellar ligament

Medial malleolus

Medial projection at the distal end of the tibia

Medial condyle

Proximal medial condyle of the tibia; articulates with medial condyle of femur

Lateral condyle

Proximal lateral condyle of the tibia

Fibula

Smaller lateral bone of the leg

Lateral malleolus

Distal projection of the fibula

Medial malleolus bone

Projection from the tibia

Lateral malleolus bone

Projection from the fibula

Tarsals

Bones of the ankle/proximal foot

Calcaneus

Heel bone

Talus

Tarsal bone that articulates superiorly with the tibia and fibula

Metatarsals

Five bones of the foot

Phalanges

Fourteen bones of the toes

Anterior compartment of leg common action

All muscles dorsiflex the foot at the ankle joint

Tibialis anterior

Dorsiflexes the foot and also inverts the foot

Tibialis anterior tendon

Tendon attaches to the plantar surface of the foot

Extensor digitorum longus

Dorsiflexes the foot and extends toes 2-5

Extensor hallucis longus

Dorsiflexes the foot and extends the big toe

Hallucis

Refers to the big toe

Lateral compartment of leg common actions

Everts the foot and weakly plantar flexes the foot

Fibularis longus

Everts and weakly plantar flexes the foot

Fibularis longus tendon

Travels to the sole of the foot

Fibularis brevis

Everts and weakly plantar flexes the foot

Fibularis brevis tendon

Attaches to the 5th metatarsal

Posterior compartment of leg common action

Most muscles plantar flex the foot; some also flex the toes

Posterior compartment groups

Superficial group and deep group

Superficial posterior leg group

All muscles plantar flex the foot at the ankle

Gastrocnemius

Plantar flexes the foot and also flexes the leg at the knee

Soleus

Plantar flexes the foot

Plantaris

Plantar flexes the foot and also flexes the leg at the knee

Plantaris strength

Weak plantar flexor

Gastrocnemius and soleus

Powerful plantar flexors

Calcaneal (Achilles) tendon

Tendon through which gastrocnemius and soleus attach to the calcaneus

Deep posterior leg group

Contains popliteus, tibialis posterior, flexor digitorum longus, and flexor hallucis longus

Popliteus

Flexes the leg at the knee joint

Does popliteus plantar flex?

No; popliteus does NOT plantar flex the foot

Tibialis posterior

Plantar flexes the foot and inverts the foot

Tibialis posterior location

Tibia to underside of foot

Flexor digitorum longus

Plantar flexes the foot and flexes toes 2-5

Flexor digitorum longus attachment

Tibia to toes

Flexor hallucis longus

Plantar flexes the foot and flexes the big toe

Flexor hallucis longus attachment

Fibula to big toe

Dorsum of foot

Contains extensor digitorum brevis and extensor hallucis brevis

Extensor digitorum brevis

Extends toes 2-4

Extensor hallucis brevis

Extends the big toe

Plantar side of foot

Sole of the foot; contains many muscles arranged in multiple layers

Plantar aponeurosis

Structure located on the plantar side/sole of the foot

Dorsiflexion

Movement that brings the top of the foot toward the leg

Plantar flexion

Movement that points the foot downward

Inversion

Turning the sole of the foot medially

Eversion

Turning the sole of the foot laterally

Anterior leg compartment

Main action is dorsiflexion

Lateral leg compartment

Main action is eversion; also weak plantar flexion

Posterior leg compartment

Main action is plantar flexion

Muscles that dorsiflex the foot

Tibialis anterior, extensor digitorum longus, extensor hallucis longus

Muscles that invert the foot

Tibialis anterior and tibialis posterior

Muscles that evert the foot

Fibularis longus and fibularis brevis

Muscle that extends toes 2-5

Extensor digitorum longus

Muscle that flexes toes 2-5

Flexor digitorum longus

Muscle that extends the big toe

Extensor hallucis longus

Muscle that flexes the big toe

Flexor hallucis longus

Muscles that flex the leg at the knee

Gastrocnemius, plantaris, and popliteus

Name top circle label

Tibial tuberosity

Name bottom left circle label

Lateral malleolus

Name bottom right circle label

Medial malleolus (and inferior articular surface)

Name blue label

Tibialis Anterior

Name green label

Extensor Digitorum Longus

Name yellow label

Extensor Hallucis Longus

Name purple label

Fibularis Longus

Name green label

Fibularis Brevis

Name blue label

Gastrocnemius

Name pink label

Soleus

Name green label

Plantaris

Name yellow label

Popliteus (deep group)

Name blue label

Tibialis Posterior

Name yellow label

Flexor digitorum longus

Name green label

Flexor hallucis longus

Name blue label

Extensor Digitorum Brevis

Name purple label

Extensor Hallucis Brevis