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The human foot is a complex structure made up of many muscles, ligaments, tendons, and bones. The foot muscles can be divided into two main categories: extrinsic muscles and intrinsic muscles. The former originates in the lower leg and enables gross motor movements, while the latter is located within the foot and is responsible for fine motor movements. There are several muscles that contribute to the flexion of the foot, including the flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus, gastrocnemius, soleus, and tibialis posterior. These muscles work together to allow for movements such as pointing the toes, standing on tiptoes, and various daily activities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Muscles involved in plantar flexion | Gastrocnemius, Soleus, Plantaris, Flexor Hallucis Longus, Flexor Digitorum Longus, Tibialis Posterior |
| Muscles involved in dorsiflexion | Extensor Digitorum Longus, Anterior Tibialis, Extensor Hallucis Longus, Peroneus Tertius |
| Muscles involved in eversion | Peroneus Longus, Peroneus Brevis |
| Muscles involved in inversion | Posterior Tibialis, Adductor Hallucis |
| Muscles involved in flexion of the toes | Flexor Hallucis Longus, Flexor Digitorum Longus, Flexor Digitorum Brevis, Abductor Hallucis, Abductor Digiti Minimi, Quadratus Plantae, Lumbricals, Flexor Hallucis Brevis, Flexor Digiti Minimi Brevis |
| Muscles involved in extension of the toes | Extensor Digitorum Longus |
| Muscles involved in abduction of the toes | Abductor Hallucis, Abductor Digiti Minimi |
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What You'll Learn
The tibialis posterior and its role in plantar flexion
The tibialis posterior is a deep muscle in the posterior compartment of the leg. It is the most central leg muscle and is vital in stabilising the lower leg and supporting the arch of the foot. The tibialis posterior is attached to the interosseous membrane and is connected to the tibia and fibula. The tendon of the tibialis posterior attaches to the metatarsals, which are the five long bones in the top of the foot.
The tibialis posterior is involved in plantar flexion, which is the extension of the ankle so that the foot points down and away from the leg. This movement is essential for many daily activities, such as standing on tiptoes to reach a high shelf or pressing the foot down on a pedal. The tibialis posterior helps other foot flexors to elevate the heel when the foot is planted on the ground, facilitating walking, running, and exercises such as calf raises.
Through its contraction, the tibialis posterior brings the tibia and fibula together during plantar flexion, improving their grip on the talus and supporting the ankle. This muscle also plays a role in stabilising the medial longitudinal arch of the foot, helping to distribute body weight when the foot is on the ground.
The tibialis posterior is innervated by the tibial nerve, which arises from the L4 and L5 spinal nerves. The blood supply to this muscle is through branches of the posterior tibial artery, including the fibular and medial plantar arteries.
Overall, the tibialis posterior is crucial for maintaining lower leg stability and enabling plantar flexion, which allows us to perform various daily activities and exercises.
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The flexor digitorum longus and its function in toe flexion
The flexor digitorum longus is a muscle that contributes to toe flexion. It is an extrinsic foot muscle, which means it originates in the lower leg and extends into the foot. Specifically, it starts on the back of the tibia bone near the soleus muscle and continues down to the toes. The muscle ends in a tendon that travels through the ankle and runs along the bottom of the foot, attaching to the second through the fifth distal phalanges (toes).
The primary action of the flexor digitorum longus is flexion of the toes, with the exception of the big toe. This muscle provides the power to flex the toes, an ability that is crucial for walking and balancing, especially when on tiptoes. The flexor digitorum longus also assists in plantar flexion of the ankle, which is the extension of the ankle so that the foot points down and away from the leg. This movement is required for activities such as standing on tiptoes, pressing the foot on a pedal, or reaching for something on a high shelf.
The flexor digitorum longus is part of the superficial central compartment of the foot, along with the flexor digitorum brevis, the four lumbricals, and the flexor digitorum longus tendons. These muscles are located in the first layer of the plantar aspect of the foot, which is the most superficial layer and is located immediately underneath the plantar fascia. The plantar aspect of the foot contains nine compartments of muscles that work together to stabilise the foot's arch and individually control the toes' movements.
The flexor digitorum longus is an important muscle for maintaining toe and ankle flexibility and stability. It is one of the extrinsic foot muscles that originate outside the foot, which provide power and control during movement. By strengthening and stretching this muscle, individuals can improve foot function, reduce the risk of injuries, and promote overall foot health.
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The gastrocnemius and its contribution to plantar flexion
The gastrocnemius is a muscle that forms half of what is commonly called the calf muscle. It starts at the back of the knee and attaches to the Achilles tendon at the heel. The gastrocnemius is one of the muscles that does most of the work in plantar flexion. Plantar flexion is a term that describes the extension of the ankle so that the foot points down and away from the foot. When in a standing position, this would mean pointing the foot toward the floor.
The gastrocnemius is the most superficial calf muscle and has two heads, one of which originates from each femoral condyle. It merges with the soleus to form the thick Achilles tendon, which inserts on the calcaneus. The gastrocnemius muscle length and force-producing capability are affected by knee-angle changes. At the knee, the gastrocnemius moment arm can change from 2, 2.5, 3.25, 3.2, to 2.1 cm from 180º of knee extension to 60º of knee flexion, in increments of 30º.
The gastrocnemius muscle tension has many fascial connections, and this tension is transmitted not only to the foot but also to the knee, hip, and lumbar. The gastrocnemius may contain up to four trigger points. The two medial trigger points lie in the medial head of the gastrocnemius, with the upper trigger point found just below the crease of the knee and the lower trigger point an inch or two below it.
The gastrocnemius is a biarticular muscle that provides the opportunity to characterize individual muscle contributions to ankle plantar flexion torque (PFT) by testing individuals as they systematically produce maximum ankle plantar flexion efforts for various ankle and knee joint angle combinations.
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The abductor hallucis and its impact on toe flexion
The abductor hallucis is an intrinsic muscle of the foot. It is located in the medial border or side of the foot, contributing to a small soft tissue bulge. It originates from the medial tubercle of the calcaneus, the flexor retinaculum, and the plantar aponeurosis, attaching to the medial base of the proximal phalanx of the great toe.
The abductor hallucis muscle moves the great toe away from the midline of the body (abduction) and enables flexion. It also supports the inner arch of the foot. The muscle is innervated by the medial plantar nerve, a division of the sciatic nerve, which branches from the tibial nerve.
The abductor hallucis is an important muscle, and strains to this muscle often go misdiagnosed or untreated. These strains may result from excessive pronation of the foot, improper and extended standing posture, or continuous heavy lifting. Such strains can cause a tingling sensation or numbness if the medial plantar nerve is compressed.
Gentle exercises can be done to relieve strain on the abductor hallucis muscle. One such exercise involves sitting down, crossing the legs, and gently stretching the great toe upwards for 20 seconds. This can be repeated three times, with 10-second breaks in between.
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The extensor digitorum longus and its role in toe extension
The extensor digitorum longus is a muscle located in the lower anterior portion of the leg. It is a pennate muscle, meaning it has a feather-like appearance with fibres extending at an angle from a tendon. This muscle arises from the lateral condyle of the tibia, the upper three-quarters of the anterior surface of the body of the fibula, the upper part of the interosseous membrane, the deep surface of the fascia, and the intermuscular septa.
The primary function of the extensor digitorum longus is to extend the lateral four toes at the metatarsophalangeal joint. This action is important for the gait cycle, as it keeps the toes extended until the heel makes contact with the ground. It is also involved in dorsiflexion of the foot, which is the movement that lifts the foot above the walking surface.
The extensor digitorum longus works in conjunction with other muscles, such as the lumbricals, to achieve full extension of the toes. The lumbricals are the main extensors of the interphalangeal joints, so by working together, these muscles contribute to extension at every joint between the bones of the lateral four toes.
To strengthen the extensor digitorum longus, a simple exercise is to lift the toes and front of the foot off the ground while keeping the heel in contact with the ground. Then, lift the toes and forefoot as high as possible and squeeze the muscles of the foot for a two-second count before returning to the starting position. This exercise can be performed for each foot, repeating the sequence 2-3 times in each session.
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Frequently asked questions
Plantar flexion is the extension of the ankle, causing the foot to point down and away from the leg. It is a simple act, but it requires a group of muscles and tendons in the leg and foot.
The gastrocnemius, soleus, flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus, tibialis posterior, and plantaris are all involved in plantar flexion.
The foot muscles allow for movement, flexibility, and stability. They can be divided into two categories: extrinsic muscles, which originate in the lower leg, and intrinsic muscles, which are located within the foot.
