|
|
|
The muscles of the leg may be divided into three groups: anterior, posterior, and lateral. The muscles of the legs are supplied by the deep peroneal nerve and the tibial nerve. They are as follows:
|
|
|
The Anterior Crural Muscles:
|
|
|
- Tibialis anterior: It originates from the lateral condyle of tibia, proximal 1/2 - 2/3 or lateral surface of tibial shaft, interosseous membrane, and the deep surface of the Fascia cruris. It is inserted into the Medial and plantar surfaces of 1st cuneiform and on base of first metatarsal.
- Extensor digitorum longus: It originates from the middle 1/2 of the anterior surface of the fibula and adjacent interosseus membrane and is inserted into the - dorsal surface of base of distal phalanx of hallux.
- Extensor hallucis longus: It originates from the middle 1/2 of the anterior surface of the fibula and adjacent interosseus membrane and is inserted into the dorsal surface of base of distal phalanx of hallux.
- Peronæus tertius: It originates at the distal 1/3 of the anterior surface of the fibula and adjacent intermuscular septum and is inserted into the dorsal surface of the base of the 5th metatarsal bone.
|
|
|
The Posterior Crural Muscles:
|
|
|
|
The muscles of the leg are subdivided into two groups—superficial and deep muscles.
|
|
|
|
|
- Gastrocnemius: It originates by two heads lateral head and medial head. The lateral head arises from the lateral condyle and posterior surface of femur and the medial head arises from the medial condyle and adjacent part of femur. It is inserted into the posterior surface of calcaneus by means of calcaneal tendon.
- Soleus: It originates from the posterior surface of the head and upper 1/3 of the shaft of the fibula, middle 1/3 of the medial border of the tibia and is inserted into the calcaneus with gastrocnemius by way of Achilles tendon;
- Plantaris: It originates the inferior aspect of the lateral prolongation of the linea aspera and from the oblique popliteal ligament of the knee joint. It is inserted into the medial posterior part of the calcaneus.
|
|
|
|
The Deep Group of muscles:
|
|
|
- Popliteus: The Popliteus is a thin, flat, triangular muscle, which forms the lower part of the floor of the popliteal fossa. It arises by a strong tendon from the anterior part of the groove on the lateral condyle of the femur, and is inserted into the medial two-thirds of the triangular surface above the popliteal line on the posterior surface of the body of the tibia, and into the tendinous expansion covering the surface of the muscle.
- Tibialis posterior: It originates from the lateral part of posterior surface of tibia, medial 2/3 of fibula, interosseous membrane, intermuscular septa and deep Fascia and is inserted into the tuberosity of navicular; plantar surface of all 3 cuneforms, cuboid and to base of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th metatarsal bones.
- Flexor digitorium longus: It originates from posterior surface of middle 3/5 of tibia and divides into 4 tendons and is inserted into the surface of base of distal phalanx of the 4 lesser toes.
- Flexor hallucinis longus: It originates from the distal 2/3 of posterior fibula, interosseous membrane and adjacent intermuscular septum and is inserted into plantar surface of base of distal phalanx .
|
|
|
The Lateral Crural Muscles are:
|
|
|
- Peronæus longus: It arises from the head and the lateral surface of the body of the fibula, from the deep surface of the Fascia, also by a few fibers from the lateral condyle of the tibia and is inserted into the lateral side of the base of the first metatarsal bone and the lateral side of the first cuneiform.
- Peronæus brevis: It arises from the lateral surface of the body of the fibula and from the intermuscular septa separating it from the adjacent muscles on the front and back of the leg. It is inserted into the tuberosity at the base of the fifth metatarsal bone, on its lateral side.
|
|
|