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The ankle joint is made up of the tibia and fibula shin bones, which sit on the talus and calcaneus at the back of the foot. The foot itself is made up of 26 bones. The ankle muscles include the gastrocnemius, soleus, tibialis posterior, tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, peroneus brevis, flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus, extensor hallucis longus, and extensor digitorum longus. These muscles are responsible for movements such as plantar flexion and dorsiflexion.
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What You'll Learn
- The tibialis posterior and peroneus longus work together to support the arches of the foot
- The peroneus brevis lies under the peroneus longus, helping to keep the foot stable
- The gastrocnemius is a muscle that forms half of the calf muscle
- The flexor digitorum longus attaches to every toe except the big toe
- The extensor hallucis longus is the only ankle muscle that extends the big toe
The tibialis posterior and peroneus longus work together to support the arches of the foot
The ankle joint consists of the tibia and fibula shin bones, which sit on the talus and calcaneus at the back of the foot. The foot itself is made up of 26 bones. The ankle muscles include the gastrocnemius, soleus, tibialis posterior, tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, peroneus brevis, flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus, extensor hallucis longus, and extensor digitorum longus.
The tibialis posterior is the deepest of all the calf muscles. It helps to support the arch of the foot. It originates in the interosseous membrane (between the tibia and fibula), as well as the posterior surfaces of the tibia and fibula, adjacent to the interosseous membrane. It inserts into the navicular tuberosity, cuneiforms, cuboid, and second, third, and fourth metatarsals. The tibialis posterior is involved in plantar flexion and inversion, innervated by the tibial nerve.
Plantar flexion describes the extension of the ankle so that the foot points down and away from the leg. When standing, this would mean pointing the foot toward the floor. Plantar flexion has a normal range of motion from about 20 to 50 degrees from the resting position. Many daily activities involve plantar flexion, such as pressing the foot down on a car's gas pedal or standing on tiptoes to reach a high shelf.
Dorsiflexion is the backward bending and contracting of the foot at the ankle. Dorsiflexion occurs when you draw your toes back toward your shins, contracting the shinbones and flexing the ankle joint. You can also dorsiflex by lifting the ball of your foot off the ground while standing, keeping your heel planted.
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The peroneus brevis lies under the peroneus longus, helping to keep the foot stable
The ankle joint consists of the tibia and fibula shin bones, which sit on the talus and calcaneus at the back of the foot. The foot itself comprises 26 bones. The ankle muscles include the gastrocnemius, soleus, tibialis posterior, tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, peroneus brevis, flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus, extensor hallucis longus, and extensor digitorum longus.
The peroneus longus and brevis work together in the middle foot to create support for the weight-bearing arches of the foot. These two muscles help keep the ankle stable when standing or rising onto the toes. The peroneus longus is also a key stabiliser of the ankle joint, balancing against the ankle invertors (moving the foot towards the big toe side). The peroneus longus and brevis are also involved in plantar flexion, helping the body stay balanced and stable.
Plantar flexion describes the extension of the ankle so that the foot points down and away from the leg. When in a standing position, this would mean pointing the foot toward the floor. The gastrocnemius is one of the muscles that does most of the work in plantar flexion. The flexor hallucis longus also helps with plantar flexion of the ankle and plays a large role in curling the toes. It is very important for walking and balancing, especially while on tiptoe.
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The gastrocnemius is a muscle that forms half of the calf muscle
The ankle joint consists of the tibia and fibula shin bones, which sit on the talus and calcaneus at the back of the foot. The foot itself is made up of 26 bones. The gastrocnemius is a large muscle located in the posterior leg, and it forms half of the calf muscle. The name "gastrocnemius" comes from the Greek words "gaster," meaning stomach or belly, and "kneme," meaning leg. Together, the phrase refers to the "belly of the leg" or the "bulk of the calf."
The gastrocnemius is the leg's most superficial muscle and forms most of the calf muscle. It has two heads, or components, with separate origins: the lateral head comes from the posterior aspect of the lateral condyle of the femur (the thigh bone), and the medial head originates from the posterior surface of the medial condyle of the femur and the popliteal surface of the femoral shaft. Both heads also originate from the capsule of the knee joint. The two heads of the gastrocnemius converge with the soleus and plantaris muscles at the popliteal fossa, which is the diamond-shaped space behind the knee joint.
The gastrocnemius is one of the muscles that does most of the work in plantar flexion, which is the extension of the ankle so that the foot points down and away from the leg. When standing, this would mean pointing the foot toward the floor. The gastrocnemius provides the force behind propulsion for walking, running, and jumping. It is also a secondary knee flexor.
The gastrocnemius is prone to muscle spasms, known as "charley horses," which are painful, involuntary contractions of the muscle that may last several minutes. These spasms are triggered by dehydration, muscle overuse, and electrolyte imbalances. A rupture of the tendon at the medial head of the gastrocnemius can occur, causing a sudden, sharp pain at the back of the calf.
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The flexor digitorum longus attaches to every toe except the big toe
The ankle joint consists of the tibia and fibula shin bones, which sit on the talus and calcaneus at the back of the foot. The foot itself comprises 26 bones. The ankle muscles include the gastrocnemius, soleus, tibialis posterior, tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, peroneus brevis, flexor hallucis longus, extensor hallucis longus, extensor digitorum longus, and flexor digitorum longus.
The flexor digitorum longus muscle or flexor digitorum communis longus is situated on the tibial side of the leg. At its origin, it is thin and pointed, but it gradually increases in size as it descends. It arises from the posterior surface of the body of the tibia, from immediately below the soleal line to within 7 or 8 cm of its lower extremity, medial to the tibial origin of the tibialis posterior muscle. It also arises from the fascia covering the tibialis posterior muscle. The muscle fibres end in a tendon, which runs nearly the whole length of the posterior surface of the muscle. This tendon passes behind the medial malleolus, in a groove, common to it and the tibialis posterior, but separated by a fibrous septum. Each tendon is contained in a special compartment lined by a separate mucous sheath.
The strengthening of the muscles of the ankles and feet is crucial as it improves agility, steadiness, and rapidity. This can be done through various exercises, such as sitting barefoot and using your toes to draw the letters of the alphabet in the air, walking or running barefoot on uneven surfaces, and standing on your toes to maintain that position for a few seconds.
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The extensor hallucis longus is the only ankle muscle that extends the big toe
The ankle joint consists of the tibia and fibula shin bones, which sit on the talus and calcaneus at the back of the foot. The foot itself comprises 26 bones. The ankle muscles include the gastrocnemius, soleus, tibialis posterior, tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, peroneus brevis, flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus, extensor hallucis longus, and extensor digitorum longus.
The extensor hallucis longus is the only ankle muscle responsible for extending or pulling back the big toe. Its origin is the middle 2/3 of the inner surface of the front of the fibula. Its insertion is the distal phalanx of the big toe. The actions of the extensor hallucis longus include the extension of the big toe, as well as dorsiflexion inversion. The muscle is innervated by the peroneal (fibular) nerve.
In daily life, the extensor hallucis longus is used when walking up stairs, as it pulls the big toe up to clear the step. Toe raises are an example of a strengthening exercise for this muscle. Related injuries include inflammation of the extensor tendons of the toes. Related muscles include the extensor digitorum longus and tibialis anterior.
The extensor digitorum longus (often shortened to EDL) is found in the front of the lower leg, in the outer, more muscle-bound compartment. Its origin is the lateral condyle of the tibia, the head and anterior surface of the fibula, and the interosseous membrane (between the tibia and fibula). The insertion of the extensor digitorum longus is the dorsal (top) surface of the middle and end phalanges of the four outer toes.
Dorsiflexion refers to the backward bending and contracting of the foot at the ankle, where the toes are drawn back toward the shins. This movement involves contracting the shinbones and flexing the ankle joint. Dorsiflexion can also be achieved by lifting the ball of the foot off the ground while standing, with the heel remaining on the ground.
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Frequently asked questions
The gastrocnemius, soleus, flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus, and peroneus longus and brevis all work together to enable plantar flexion, or pointing the foot down and away from the leg.
Dorsiflexion is the backward bending of the foot at the ankle, where the toes are drawn back toward the shin. The tibialis anterior is a muscle that enables dorsiflexion.
The extensor hallucis longus is the only muscle in the ankle responsible for the extension of the big toe.
