
The hallucis muscle is located in the foot and comes in three forms: abductor hallucis, flexor hallucis longus, and adductor hallucis. The abductor hallucis muscle is a small but powerful muscle with three origin points and one insertion point at the base of the proximal phalanx of the great toe. The flexor hallucis longus is one of four muscles that make up the deep posterior compartment of the lower limb, and it is responsible for flexing the great toe. Lastly, the adductor hallucis arises by two heads, oblique and transverse, and is responsible for adducting the big toe.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Muscle Type | Abductor Hallucis, Flexor Hallucis Longus, Adductor Hallucis |
| Location | Foot, specifically the medial border |
| Function | Abduct and flex the great toe, aid in supinating the ankle |
| Innervation | Medial plantar nerve (root value S1-S3), tibial nerve |
| Blood Supply | Medial plantar artery, first plantar metatarsal artery |
| Tendon | Passes through tarsal tunnel, ends in a tendon at the base of the great toe |
| Injuries | Tenosynovitis, tendinopathies, muscle strains, tears, impingement |
| Treatment | Rest, ice, ultrasound therapy, physical therapy, surgery |
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What You'll Learn

The abductor hallucis muscle is an intrinsic muscle of the foot
The function of the abductor hallucis muscle is to abduct and flex the great toe, or big toe. This action helps to maintain the stability of the foot during walking by preserving the central position of the great toe and maintaining the medial longitudinal arch of the foot. The medial longitudinal arch is the raised curve of the foot that extends from the heel to the toes.
The abductor hallucis muscle originates from the medial process of the calcaneal tuberosity, plantar aponeurosis, and the superficial layer of the flexor retinaculum. The muscle fibres then run anteriorly and medially, forming a tendon at the level of the body of the first metatarsal bone. The tendon courses along the medial border of the first metatarsophalangeal joint and finally inserts at the base of the proximal phalanx of the great toe.
The abductor hallucis muscle is innervated by the medial plantar nerve, which is the larger of the two terminal branches of the tibial nerve. The blood supply for the muscle comes from two arteries: the medial plantar artery, a branch of the posterior tibial artery, and the first plantar metatarsal artery, a branch of the lateral plantar artery.
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It abducts and flexes the big toe
The abductor hallucis muscle is responsible for abducting and flexing the big toe. It is a small but powerful muscle, with three origin points and one insertion point. It originates from the medial process of the calcaneal tuberosity, plantar aponeurosis, and the superficial layer of the flexor retinaculum. The muscle fibres run anteriorly and medially, forming a tendon at the level of the body of the first metatarsal bone.
The abductor hallucis muscle is the most medial muscle of the foot, contributing to the formation of the medial border of the foot. It is inserted behind the tuberosity of the calcaneus, with its tendon coursing along the medial border of the first metatarsophalangeal joint. The tendon finally inserts at the base of the proximal phalanx of the big toe.
The function of this muscle is crucial for maintaining the stability of the foot during walking. By abducting the big toe, it preserves the central position of the toe, preventing deformities such as hallux valgus. Additionally, the abductor hallucis muscle aids in maintaining the medial longitudinal arch of the foot, further contributing to the stability of the foot.
Another muscle that also contributes to flexing the big toe is the flexor hallucis longus. This muscle originates at the posterior surface of the fibula and inserts at the base of the distal phalanx of the big toe. The flexor hallucis longus achieves flexion of the big toe through plantar flexion of the talocrural joint and the metatarsophalangeal and interphalangeal joints of the big toe. This muscle is located towards the fibular aspect of the lower limb and is one of four deep muscles in the posterior compartment of the lower limb.
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It has three origin points and one insertion point
The abductor hallucis muscle is a small but powerful muscle located in the foot. It is involved in the abduction and flexion of the big toe, which helps to maintain the stability of the foot during walking. This muscle has three origin points and one insertion point.
The three origin points of the abductor hallucis muscle are the medial process of the calcaneal tuberosity, the plantar aponeurosis, and the superficial layer of the flexor retinaculum. From these origin points, the muscle fibres run anteriorly and medially, forming a tendon at the level of the body of the first metatarsal bone.
The tendon then courses along the medial border of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, which is the joint that allows the big toe to bend. Finally, the tendon inserts at the base of the proximal phalanx of the great toe. This insertion point is the single insertion of the abductor hallucis muscle.
The abductor hallucis muscle is the most medial muscle of the foot, and its function is crucial for maintaining the medial longitudinal arch of the foot while walking. Its blood supply comes from two arteries: the medial plantar artery and the first plantar metatarsal artery. The nerve supply to the abductor hallucis muscle is provided by the medial plantar nerve.
In some clinical situations, imbalances or deformities involving the abductor hallucis muscle may occur. These issues can sometimes be addressed through surgical procedures or tendon transfer techniques.
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It is innervated by the medial plantar nerve
The abductor hallucis muscle is located in the medial border of the foot and is responsible for abducting and flexing the big toe. This action helps to preserve the central position of the big toe during walking, thus contributing to the stability of the foot.
The abductor hallucis muscle is innervated by the medial plantar nerve, which is one of the two terminal branches of the tibial nerve. The nerve enters the abductor hallucis muscle from its upper border and can be visualised as piercing the muscle and dividing into two or three branches distributed in a radiating pattern.
The medial plantar nerve supplies muscles on the medial side of the sole, including the abductor hallucis, flexor digitorum brevis, flexor hallucis brevis, and the first lumbrical. The nerve endings of the medial plantar nerve within the abductor hallucis muscle are most densely located in the region between the proximal one-fourth and the halfway point of the muscle.
The medial plantar nerve also plays a role in potential pain management in the abductor hallucis muscle. Studies have been conducted to understand the intramuscular distribution pattern and motor nerve ending territories of the medial plantar nerve within this muscle. This knowledge can help inform pain management strategies and clinical interventions related to the abductor hallucis muscle.
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The flexor hallucis longus is another muscle in the foot
The flexor hallucis longus is a powerful muscle located on the fibular side of the leg. It is one of the four muscles that make up the deep posterior compartment of the lower limb. The flexor hallucis longus is responsible for flexing the great toe, also known as the big toe. This muscle also assists in plantar flexion and inversion of the foot, helping to maintain the medial longitudinal arch.
The muscle fibres of the flexor hallucis longus originate from the posterior surface of the fibula and run obliquely inferiorly and posteriorly towards the foot. On the medial aspect of the foot, the tendon of the flexor hallucis longus passes through the tarsal tunnel, a narrow space found on the medial side of the ankle. This tendon is stabilised by the annular ligament, which wraps around it and provides support.
As the tendon exits the tarsal tunnel, it curves around a bony structure called the sustentaculum tali. This site is susceptible to friction, which can lead to a condition called "dancer's tendinitis" commonly seen in ballet dancers, gymnasts, and runners due to excessive toe flexion. The tendon then continues forward, passing through the sole of the foot and entering the fibrous digital sheath of the great toe.
The flexor hallucis longus is an important muscle for balance and foot strength. Exercises such as gripping a towel or using a theraband can help strengthen this muscle. Flexion of the great toe produced by the flexor hallucis longus is the final act before the foot is lifted from the floor during the toe-off phase of the gait cycle.
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Frequently asked questions
The hallucis muscle is a muscle in the foot that is involved in the movement of the big toe. There are three types of hallucis muscle: abductor hallucis, adductor hallucis, and flexor hallucis longus.
The abductor hallucis muscle is an intrinsic muscle of the foot. It is involved in the abduction and flexion of the big toe, which helps to maintain the stability of the foot during walking.
The adductor hallucis muscle arises by two heads—oblique and transverse. It is responsible for adducting the big toe.
The flexor hallucis longus muscle is one of the four muscles that make up the deep posterior compartment of the lower limb. It is involved in plantar flexion and inversion of the foot, as well as flexion of the great toe and supination of the ankle.
The hallucis muscle is located in the foot, with the abductor hallucis muscle being the most medial muscle. The flexor hallucis longus muscle is located towards the fibular aspect of the lower limb.










































