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The ankle joint is a valuable structure in the human body due to its complex articulating surfaces and role in walking. The ankle consists of two joints, which enable the foot to move in several ways, including dorsiflexion, plantarflexion, inversion, and eversion. Muscles that control ankle movement are found in the leg and can be divided into anterior, posterior, and lateral compartments. Dorsiflexion is the movement of the foot upwards towards the lower leg. The muscles that dorsiflex the ankle include the tibialis anterior, extensor hallucis longus, and extensor digitorum longus.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Muscles that dorsiflex the ankle | Tibialis Anterior, Extensor Hallucis Longus, Extensor Digitorum Longus, Fibularis Brevis |
| Location of the Tibialis Anterior muscle | Alongside the lateral surface of the tibia |
| Attachments of the Tibialis Anterior muscle | Originates from the lateral surface of the tibia and attaches to the base of the big toe |
| Actions of the Tibialis Anterior muscle | Dorsiflexion and inversion of the foot |
| Innervation of the Tibialis Anterior muscle | Deep fibular nerve |
| Strongest dorsiflexor of the foot | Tibialis Anterior |
| Location of the Extensor Digitorum Longus muscle | Runs the length of the tibia |
| Attachments of the Extensor Digitorum Longus muscle | Originates from the tibia and transitions into a tendon, passes into the foot, splits into four, and attaches to the toes |
| Location of the Extensor Hallucis Longus muscle | Deep to the Tibialis Anterior and Extensor Digitorum Longus |
| Attachments of the Extensor Hallucis Longus muscle | Originates from the medial surface of the fibular shaft and attaches to the big toe |
| Actions of the Extensor Hallucis Longus muscle | Extension of the great toe and dorsiflexion of the foot |
| Innervation of the Extensor Hallucis Longus muscle | Deep fibular nerve |
| Location of the Fibularis Brevis muscle | Originates from the lateral surface of the fibula |
| Attachments of the Fibularis Brevis muscle | Attaches to the little toe |
| Actions of the Fibularis Brevis muscle | Eversion of the foot |
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What You'll Learn
- The tibialis anterior is the strongest dorsiflexor of the foot
- The extensor digitorum longus is a deep-lying extrinsic muscle
- The extensor hallucis longus is positioned deep to the tibialis anterior
- The fibularis brevis is the deeper and shorter of the two fibularis muscles
- The fibularis tertius muscle is not present in all individuals
The tibialis anterior is the strongest dorsiflexor of the foot
The ankle is a valuable structure in the human body due to its intricate articulating surfaces and function in ambulation. The ankle joint is formed from the tibia and fibula of the lower leg and the talus of the foot. It acts as a hinge, allowing dorsiflexion (pulling the foot upwards towards the lower leg) and plantarflexion (pulling the foot downwards).
Dorsiflexion of the foot is facilitated by several muscles, including the tibialis anterior, extensor hallucis longus, and extensor digitorum longus. Of these, the tibialis anterior is the strongest dorsiflexor of the foot. This muscle is located alongside the lateral surface of the tibia and is the most superficial and anterior-facing muscle among the dorsiflexors. It originates from the lateral surface of the tibia and attaches to the base of the big toe.
The tibialis anterior is one of four muscles in the anterior compartment of the leg that act to dorsiflex and invert the foot at the ankle joint. These muscles are collectively innervated by the deep fibular nerve (L4-S2), with arterial supply through the anterior tibial artery. The tibialis anterior has been found to produce higher results in resistance training when compared to other muscles.
The action of the tibialis anterior muscle is considerably stronger than that of the other three dorsiflexor muscles of the foot. This muscle plays a crucial role in maintaining the medial arch of the foot and contributes to knee flexion during gait initiation. Additionally, the tibialis anterior is involved in the inversion of the foot, which is the tilting of the sole of the foot inwards towards the midline.
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The extensor digitorum longus is a deep-lying extrinsic muscle
The extensor digitorum longus is involved in dorsiflexion, the movement of the foot upwards toward the lower leg. This muscle crosses the dorsal aspect of the ankle joint, allowing it to dorsiflex the foot. Dorsiflexion is one of the essential movements of the ankle joint, facilitated by the ankle's two joints and strong ligaments that hold the joint in place.
The extensor digitorum longus also plays a role in eversion and extension of the toes. After originating from the tibia, the muscle transitions into a tendon that passes into the foot. Within the inferior extensor retinaculum, the tendon splits into four smaller tendons, which are wrapped together in a synovial sheath. These tendons attach to the toes, with the central bands inserting into the base of the distal phalanges of the lateral four toes.
The leg portion of the extensor digitorum longus is supplied by two arteries: the proximal part by the anterior tibial artery and the distal part by the fibular artery. The tendons of the muscle receive blood supply from several arteries, including the anterior lateral malleolar, lateral tarsal, metatarsal, plantar, and digital arteries. The muscle is innervated by the deep fibular nerve (L5, S1), a branch of the common fibular nerve.
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The extensor hallucis longus is positioned deep to the tibialis anterior
The extensor hallucis longus is a thin muscle that extends the big toe (also known as the hallux) and dorsiflects the foot. It is situated in the anterior compartment of the leg, alongside the extensor digitorum longus and tibialis anterior muscles. The extensor hallucis longus is positioned deep to the tibialis anterior, with its tendon emerging between the two muscles to insert into the base of the distal phalanx of the big toe.
The tibialis anterior is the most superficial and anterior-facing muscle among the dorsiflexors of the ankle. It originates from the lateral surface of the tibia and attaches to the base of the big toe. Its primary actions are dorsiflexion and inversion of the foot.
The extensor hallucis longus, on the other hand, is located just below the superficial surfaces and sits between the tibialis anterior and the extensor digitorum longus. Its origin extends from the anteromedial aspect of the fibula, lateral to the origin of the tibialis anterior, and it runs inferomedially towards the foot, ending in a tendon.
The tendon of the extensor hallucis longus passes through the dorsal aspect of the foot, specifically deep to the superior extensor retinaculum, and through the inferior extensor retinaculum. The anterior tibial artery and vein, as well as the deep peroneal nerve, run between the extensor hallucis longus and the tibialis anterior muscles. This space between the tendons is clinically significant, serving as an entry point for injections or procedures in the ankle joint.
In summary, the extensor hallucis longus is positioned deep to the tibialis anterior, and together, they contribute to the dorsiflexion movement of the ankle joint, along with other muscles in the anterior compartment of the leg.
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The fibularis brevis is the deeper and shorter of the two fibularis muscles
The fibularis brevis works in conjunction with the fibularis longus to maintain the concavity of the foot during toe-off and tip-toeing. They also help to steady the leg upon the foot, especially when standing on one leg. The two muscles share a common function: eversion, or turning the sole of the foot outwards. They are both innervated by the superficial fibular nerve.
The fibularis brevis is located in the anterior compartment of the leg, along with the fibularis tertius. The fibularis tertius shares eversion tasks with the other two fibularis muscles but is antagonistic to their plantarflexion movements due to its location anterior to the ankle joint.
The fibularis brevis is not involved in dorsiflexion of the foot, which is performed by the tibialis anterior, extensor hallucis longus, and extensor digitorum longus. Dorsiflexion refers to the movement of the foot upwards towards the lower leg.
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The fibularis tertius muscle is not present in all individuals
The fibularis tertius muscle, also called peroneus tertius, is one of the three fibularis muscles (the other two being fibularis longus and fibularis brevis). It is a thin, unipennate type of skeletal muscle that is found in the anterior compartment of the leg. The fibularis tertius muscle is not considered a strong dorsiflexor of the foot due to its small size and poor mechanical leverage.
The presence of the fibularis tertius muscle varies across different populations. For example, in two separate studies, the muscle was present in less than 50% of a Chilean sample population and 63% of a south-western Nigerian sample population. This muscle is absent in many individuals without causing any noticeable movement impairment, as its actions can be efficiently completed by other, more powerful muscles. The fibularis tertius muscle is also quite varied in its structure; in some individuals, it is absent, while in others, it forms part of the extensor digitorum longus muscle, being described as the muscle's "fifth tendon".
The fibularis tertius muscle fibres travel inferolaterally to the foot and insert onto the dorsal aspect of the base of the fifth metatarsal bone. It spans and acts on two main joints of the foot: the talocrural (ankle) and subtalar joints. The muscle belly of fibularis tertius gives rise to a tendon that travels deep into the inferior extensor retinaculum of the foot. This tendon then travels alongside the tendon of the extensor digitorum longus muscle, with the two tendons sharing a common sheath. The fibularis tertius tendon is also penetrated by the tendon of the tibialis cranialis muscle, which then divides into three branches before inserting into the tarsal and metatarsal bones.
The fibularis tertius muscle receives arterial blood supply from several sources, including the anterior tibial artery, the dorsalis pedis artery and its branches, and the posterior tibial artery. It also receives innervation from the deep fibular nerve, a branch of the sciatic nerve.
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Frequently asked questions
Dorsiflexion is the movement of the foot upwards towards the lower leg.
The tibialis anterior is the strongest dorsiflexor of the foot. Other muscles that dorsiflex the ankle include the extensor hallucis longus, extensor digitorum longus, and peroneous tertius.
The tibialis anterior muscle is located alongside the lateral surface of the tibia.
The tibialis anterior originates from the lateral surface of the tibia and attaches to the base of the big toe.
The actions of the tibialis anterior muscle are dorsiflexion and inversion of the foot.
