Lower Leg Muscles

#1 muscle, origin, insertion, action(s)

Gastrocnemius - calf muscle

origin: femoral condyles

insertion: calcaneus via calcaneal tendon

action: plantarflexion

1A

Calcaneal tendon (achilles tendon)

#2 muscle, origin, insertion, action(s)

Soleus - deep to gastrocnemius

origin: posterior tibia and fibula

insertion: calcaneus via calcaneal tendon

action: plantarflexion

Deep plantarflexors (posterior)

Under gastrocnemius and soleus

Tibislis posterior, flexor digitorum longus, flexor hallucis longus

#3 muscle, origin, insertion, action(s)

Tibialis Posterior

origin: posterior tibia

insertion: plantar surface of foot

actions: plantarflexion & inversion

#4 muscle, origin, insertion, action(s)

Flexor Digitorum Longus

origin: lateral condyle of tibia

insertion: planter surface of digits 2-5

action: flexion of digits

#5 muscle, origin, insertion, action(s)

Flexor hallucis longus

origin: fibula

insertion: plantar surface of hallux

action: flexion of hallux

#6 muscle, origin, insertion, action(s)

Tibialis anterior - shin muscle

origin: lateral condyle of tibia

insertion: dorsal surface of the foot

action: dorsiflexion and inversion

#7 muscle, origin, insertion, action(s)

Extensor digitorum longus

origin: lateral condyle of tibia

insertion: dorsal surface of digits 2-5

action: extension of digits

#8 muscle, origin, insertion, action(s)

Extensor hallucis longus

origin: fibula

insertion: dorsal surface of hallux

action: extension of hallux

#9 & #10 muscles, origin, insertion, action(s)

Fibularis longus #9 & Fibularis Brevis #10

origin: fibula

insertion: plantar surface of foot

actions: plantarflexion, eversion

dorsal surface vs plantar surface

dorsal - on top of foot

plantar - bottom of foot

medial vs lateral landmarks

medial - big toe & tibia

lateral - pinky toe & fibula