Dominic Stone
The adductor hallucis is a muscle located in the sole of the foot. It is a two-headed muscle, with both heads innervated by the lateral plantar nerve. The muscle is responsible for adducting the big toe, facilitating walking and reinforcing the forefoot as the centre of gravity for body weight before the heel lifts up. The adductor hallucis also contributes to maintaining the transverse and longitudinal arches of the foot. A rupture of the adductor hallucis can lead to hallux varus deformities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Adductor Hallucis Muscle |
| Location | Central Compartment of the Sole of the Foot |
| Layer | Third Layer of Plantar Foot Muscles |
| Function | Adducting and Flexing the Great Toe (Hallux) |
| Structure | Two Heads (Oblique and Transverse) |
| Innervation | Deep Branch of Lateral Plantar Nerve (S2, S3) |
| Arterial Supply | Medial and Lateral Plantar Arteries, Deep Plantar Arch, and Plantar Metatarsal Arteries |
| Role | Stabilizing the Transverse and Longitudinal Arches of the Foot |
| Surgical Consideration | Traumatic Rupture Can Lead to Hallux Varus Deformities |
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What You'll Learn
The adductor hallucis is a two-headed muscle
The two heads of the adductor hallucis are the oblique head and the transverse head. The oblique head is a large, thick, fleshy mass that crosses the foot obliquely and occupies the hollow space under the first, second, third, and fourth metatarsal bones. It arises from the bases of the second, third, and fourth metatarsal bones and the sheath of the tendon of the peroneus longus. The transverse head, on the other hand, is a narrow, flat fasciculus that arises from the plantar metatarsophalangeal ligaments of the third, fourth, and fifth toes (sometimes only from the third and fourth).
The muscle bellies of these two heads travel anterolaterally and converge to form a single tendon, which inserts onto the lateral aspect of the base of the proximal phalanx of the great toe. This insertion point is where the adductor hallucis joins with the flexor hallucis brevis tendon on the fibular sesamoid. The adductor hallucis is innervated by the deep branch of the lateral plantar nerve (S2, S3), which stems from the tibial nerve.
In addition to its role in facilitating walking, the adductor hallucis also contributes to maintaining the transverse and longitudinal arches of the foot. It stabilizes the foot arches and fixes the forefoot, which is particularly important during the push-off phase of the gait cycle. The adductor hallucis is a key intrinsic muscle of the foot, and its function is crucial for maintaining proper foot anatomy and gait.
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It is located in the sole of the foot
The adductor hallucis is a muscle located in the sole of the foot. It is a fan-shaped skeletal muscle with two heads: the oblique head and the transverse head. The muscle sits in the central compartment of the foot's sole and is part of the medial group of plantar foot muscles.
The oblique head is a large, thick, fleshy mass that crosses the foot obliquely. It occupies the hollow space under the first, second, third, and fourth metatarsal bones. This head arises from the bases of the second, third, and fourth metatarsal bones, as well as the sheath of the tendon of the Peroneus longus.
The transverse head, or Transversus pedis, is a narrow, flat fasciculus. It arises from the plantar metatarsophalangeal ligaments of the third, fourth, and sometimes fifth toes, as well as the transverse ligament of the metatarsals.
Both heads of the adductor hallucis are innervated by the deep branch of the lateral plantar nerve, which stems from the tibial nerve. The main vascular source for this muscle is the posterior tibial artery and its branches.
The adductor hallucis is responsible for adducting and flexing the big toe, also known as the hallux. This action helps to stabilize the transverse and longitudinal arches of the foot, facilitating walking.
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The muscle adducts and flexes the big toe
The adductor hallucis is a muscle that adducts and flexes the big toe. It is a two-headed, intrinsic muscle of the sole of the foot. It is located in the central compartment of the foot, and it lies plantar (inferior) to the tendons of the flexor digitorum longus, flexor digitorum brevis, and plantar interossei muscles. The adductor hallucis originates from the bases of the first four metatarsals and the plantar ligaments before attaching to the big toe.
The two heads of the adductor hallucis are the oblique head and the transverse head. The oblique head is a large, thick, fleshy mass that crosses the foot obliquely. It occupies the hollow space under the first, second, third, and fourth metatarsal bones. The transverse head, on the other hand, is a narrow, flat fasciculus that arises from the plantar metatarsophalangeal ligaments of the third, fourth, and sometimes fifth toes.
The adductor hallucis plays an important role in the terminal stance phase of the gait cycle. By flexing and adducting the big toe, it reinforces the forefoot as the center of gravity for body weight before the heel lifts up. Additionally, due to the horizontal position of its transverse head, it helps to stabilize the foot arches and fix the forefoot.
The adductor hallucis also works together with other muscles to ensure the correct positioning and alignment of the hallux. It has an antagonistic relationship with the abductor hallucis, and they work together to enable proper alignment of the hallux in the horizontal (plantar) plane. The adductor hallucis also supports the action of the tendon stirrup, which is the main stabilizer of the foot's transverse arch.
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It is innervated by the deep branch of the lateral plantar nerve
Adductor hallucis is a muscle that sits in the central compartment of the sole of the foot. It is a two-headed muscle, with both heads innervated by the deep branch of the lateral plantar nerve. The lateral plantar nerve divides into two branches: the superficial and the deep. The deep branch of the lateral plantar nerve stems from the tibial nerve.
The two heads of the adductor hallucis are the oblique head and the transverse head. The oblique head is a large, thick, fleshy mass that crosses the foot obliquely. It occupies the hollow space under the first, second, third, and fourth metatarsal bones. The transverse head, on the other hand, is a narrow, flat fasciculus that arises from the plantar metatarsophalangeal ligaments of the third, fourth, and sometimes fifth toes.
The deep branch of the lateral plantar nerve plays a crucial role in the function of the adductor hallucis muscle. This nerve supplies the muscle with the necessary stimulation to facilitate its actions. The adductor hallucis is responsible for adducting and flexing the big toe, also known as the great toe or hallux. This action helps to reinforce the forefoot as the centre of gravity for body weight before the heel lifts up during the terminal stance phase of the gait cycle.
The adductor hallucis also provides stability to the foot by supporting the transverse and longitudinal arches. It may be most active during the push-off phase of the gait cycle, where it helps to stabilize the transverse arch of the foot and the metatarsal heads. This muscle is, therefore, essential for maintaining proper foot function and facilitating walking.
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A rupture of the adductor hallucis is uncommon but can lead to deformities
The adductor hallucis is an intrinsic, two-headed muscle in the sole of the foot. It is one of three muscles in the third layer of the plantar foot muscles. The function of the adductor hallucis is to facilitate walking by adducting and flexing the big toe (also known as the great toe or hallux). It also contributes to maintaining the transverse and longitudinal arches of the foot.
A rupture of the adductor hallucis is uncommon. However, it can occur, and when it does, it can lead to deformities. Specifically, a rupture can cause hallux varus, a deformity that can be debilitating if left untreated, with progressive pain and destruction of joint surfaces.
There have been reports of successful surgical outcomes following a rupture of the adductor hallucis tendon. One such case study, published in 2018, described a 33-year-old male who underwent surgical fixation of the adductor hallucis tendon after experiencing a rupture while pivoting on his bare foot. The patient had good surgical results.
It is important to note that other treatments for a rupture of the adductor hallucis are not well documented. In the case of hallux varus deformities, various surgical procedures have been described, but the success of these procedures in treating traumatic causes, such as a rupture, is not extensively reported.
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Frequently asked questions
The Adductor Hallucis is a two-headed intrinsic muscle of the sole of the foot. It is responsible for adducting the big toe, facilitating walking and reinforcing the forefoot as the centre of gravity for body weight.
The Adductor Hallucis is located in the third layer of muscles in the plantar part of the foot. It is anatomically located within the central compartment of the foot.
The Adductor Hallucis adducts and flexes the great toe at the metatarsophalangeal joint. It also helps to maintain the transverse and longitudinal arches of the foot.
The origin of the Adductor Hallucis is the plantar aspects of the bases of the second to fourth metatarsal bones. The insertion is on the lateral aspect of the base of the proximal phalanx of the great toe.
