Muscle | Description/location | Attachments | Actions |
Popliteus | Small muscle in back of knee | Lateral condyle of femur, inserts proximal tibia | Unlocks knee for flexion to occur |
Plantaris | Long thin muscle runs between gastrocnemius and soleus | Femur,superior to lateral condyle, inserts at calcaneus via Achilles' tendon | flexes knee and planter flexion of ankle |
Soleus | Flat muscle, lies deep to gastrocnemius. | Medial border of tibia and head of fibula, inserts via Achilles' tendon | Plantar flexion at ankle |
Gastrocnemius | Large superficial bulbous muscle back of lower leg | Lateral and medial condyle of femur, insert to Achilles' tendon | flexion at knee, planter flexion at ankle |
Tibialis anterior | Superficial muscle on front of lower leg lateral to tibia | Tibia, lateral condyle and fibrous tissues, inserts to first metatarsal and (1st) medial cuneiform. | Dorsi flexion at ankle, and inversion of foot |
Tibialis posterior | Deepest muscle in rear of the leg ( between FDL and FHL) | Tibia, fibula and interosseous membrane, inserts to metatarsals (2-4) cuneiform and cuboid. | plantar flexes foot at ankle, and inverts at intertarsal joints. |
Peroneus (fibularis) longus | | Head and body of fibula and lateral condyle of tibia, inserts to first metatarsal and first cuneiform | plantar flexes foot at ankle and everts foot at intertarsal joints. |
Peroneus (fibularis) brevis | Shorter muscle in lateral compartment of lower leg | Body of fibula, inserts to base of fifth metatarsal | plantar flexion, and eversion |
Peroneus (fibularis) tertius | Small, weak muscle in fibularis group | Distal third of fibula and interosseous membrane, inserts to base of fifth metatarsal | Dorsi flexes and everts foot |
Extensor digitorum longus | Long muscle, lateral to tibia and deep to TA | Lateral condyle of tibia, anterior surface of fibula and interosseous membrane, inserts to middle and distal phalanges of toes (2-5) | Dorsi flex foot, extends toes |
Extensor hallucis longus | deep to EDL and TA | Anterior surface of fibula and interosseous membrane, inserts to big toe (distal phalanx) | Dorsi flexes foot and extends proximal phalanx of big toe |
Flexor digitorum longus | Deep posterior lower leg | Posterior surface of tibia, inserts to distal phalanges, (2-5) | plantar flexion of foot and flexion of toes (2-5) |
Flexor hallucis longus | Deep posterior of lower leg | Inferior 2 thirds of fibula, inserts to distal phalanx of big toe | plantar flexion of foot and flexion of big toe |
Peroneus(fibularis) longus | Long muscle in lateral compartment of leg | | |