Muscles of foot
MUSCLES OF FOOT
- The muscles acting on the foot can be classified into extrinsic muscles, those originating on the anterior or posterior aspect of the lower leg.
- and intrinsic muscles, originating on the dorsal (top) or plantar (base) aspects of the foot.
EXTRINSIC MUSCLES
- All muscles originating on the lower leg except the popliteus muscle are attached to the bones of the foot.
- The tibia and fibula and the interosseous membrane separate these muscles into anterior and posterior groups, in their turn subdivided into subgroups and layers.
Anterior group
1. Extensor group:
| MUSCLE | ORIGIN | INSERTION | ACTION |
| Tibialis Anterior | Proximal half of tibia Interosseous membrane |
near tarsometatarsal joint of 1st digit |
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| Extensor digitorum longus | Lateral tibial condyle Along the fibula |
Second to fifth digits and proximally on the fifth metatarsal. |
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| Extensor hallucis longus | Medially on the fibula | first digit |
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2. Peroneal group:
| MUSCLE | ORIGIN | INSERTION | ACTION |
| Peroneus Longus | Proximal aspect of Fibula |
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| Peroneus Brevis | Proximal aspect of fibula below P. Longus |
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Posterior group
- Superficial layer
| MUSCLE | ORIGIN | INSERTION | ACTION | ||||
Triceps Surae
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Merges to be inserted on calcaneus as Achiles tendon |
Plantar flexion During walking it not only lifts the heel, but also flexes the knee, assisted by the plantaris. |
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| Plantaris | Femur | Medial to Achilles’ tendon | Plantar flexion
During walking it not only lifts the heel, but also flexes the knee, assisted by the plantaris. |
2. Deep layer
| MUSCLE | ORIGIN | INSERTION | ACTION |
| Tibialis Posterior |
Interosseous membrane & adjoining bones Passes deep to flexor retinaculum |
Tarsall bone except talus |
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| Flexor hallucis longus | Back of the fibula (i.e. on the lateral side) | Extends distally down to the flexor retinaculum where it passes over to the medial side to stretch across the sole to the distal phalanx of the first digit. |
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| Popliteus | Lateral femoral epicondyle(intracapsular) | Posterior surface of the tibia, just proximal to the soleal line |
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INTRINSIC MUSCLES:
- There are three groups of muscles in the sole of foot, those of the first and last digits, and a central group:
- Muscles Of Big Toe:
| MUSCLE | ORIGINN | INSERTION | ACTION |
| Abductor hallucis | Calcaneus of 1st digit | 2 head insert proximal & distal to 1st metatarsal |
Abductor & Weak flexor Maintain arch of foot |
| Flexor hallucis brevis( sesamoid bone present in its tendon) | Medial cuneiform bone | 2 head insert proximal & distal to 1st metatarsal | Plantar flexor(crucial for ballet dance) |
| Adductor hallucis |
oblique head:central part of midfoot Transverse head:metatarsophalangeal joints of digits five to three |
Lateral sesamoid bone of the first digit | Tensor of the plantar arches and also adducts the big toe and then might plantar flex the proximal phal |
2. Muscles of the little toe:
| MUSCLE | ORIGIN | INSERTION | ACTION |
| Abductor digiti minimi | calcaneus |
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| flexor digiti minimi | Base of the fifth metatarsal |
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| Opponens digiti minimi | cuboid bone |
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3. Central muscle group:
| MUSCLE | ORIGIN | INSERTION | ACTION |
| Lumbricals(4) | Medial side of the tendons of flexor digitorum longus | Medial margins of the proximal phalanges |
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| Quadratus plantae | 2 slips from the lateral and medial margins of the calcaneus | Lateral margin of the flexor digitorum tendon |
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| Flexor digitorum brevis | Inferiorly on the calcaneus | Middle phalanges of digits two to four |
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| Dorsal and plantar interossei | Between the toes, the stretch from the metatarsals | Proximal phalanges of digits two to five |
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Exam Question
- Sesamoid bone present in tendon of Flexor hallucis brevis
- Lumbricals Originates from tendons of flexor digitorum profundus
- Popliteus is the unlocker of knee
- Peroneus longus is the Evertor of ankle inserted into the medial cuneiform
- Gastrocnemius Muscle is used in normal walk during DIstance and swing
- Tibialis posterior muscle passes deep to the flexor retinaculum
- Tibialis posterior is inserted into all tarsus bones except talus
- Peroneus brevis is inserted into proximal part of 5th metatarsal
- Gastrocnemius & plantaris acts both on knee & ankle
- Muscles causing dorsiflexion of foot are Extensor digitorum longus, Extensor hallucis longus & Tibialis anterior
- Planter flaxion is brought about by Plantaris, FHL & Soleus
- Action of tibialis anterior is that in Non-weight-bearing leg tibialis anterior flexes the foot dorsally and lift its medial edge (supination) & in Weight-bearing leg it brings the leg towards the back of the foot, like in rapid walking.
- Tibilais anterior causes inversion of foot
- Soleus is k/as peripheral heart
- Flexor digiti minimi muscle is attached to hook of hamate.
- Action of popliteus muscle: unlock knee, flex knee.
Don’t Forget to Solve all the previous Year Question asked on Muscles of foot


