Table of Lower Limb Muscles
Muscles of Gluteal Region
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Muscle
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Origin
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Insertion
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Nerve
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Action
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gluteus maximus
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outer surface of ilium, sacrum, coccyx, sacrotuberous ligament
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iliotibial tract and gluteal tuberosity of femur
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inferior gluteal nerve
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extends & laterally rotates thigh; through iliotibial tract, it extends knee joint
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gluteus medius
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outer surface of ilium
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greater trochanter of femur
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superior gluteal nerve
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abducts thigh. Tilts pelvis when walking
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gluteus minimus
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outer surface of ilium
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greater trochanter of femur
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superior gluteal nerve
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abduct thigh; anterior fibers medially rotate thigh
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tensor fasciae latae
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iliac crest
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iliotibial tract
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superior gluteal nerve
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assists gluteus major in locking the knee into full extension
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piriformis
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anterior surface of sacrum
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greater trochanteric fossa
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1st & 2nd sacral nerves
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lateral rotator of thigh
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superior gemellus
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spine of ischium
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greater trochanteric fossa
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sacral plexus
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lateral rotator of thigh
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obturator internus
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inner surface of obturator membrane
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greater trochanteric fossa
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sacral plexus
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lateral rotator of thigh
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inferior gemellus
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ischial tuberosity
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greater trochanteric fossa
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sacral plexus
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lateral rotator of thigh
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obturator externus
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outer surface of obturator membrane
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greater trochanteric fossa of femur
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obturator nerve
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lateral rotator of thigh
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Anterior Compartment of Thigh
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sartorius
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anterior superior iliac spine
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upper medial surface of tibia
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femoral nerve
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flexes, abducts, laterally rotates thigh; flexes & medially rotates leg
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iliacus
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iliac fossa
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with psoas into the lesser trochanter of femur
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femoral nerve
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flexes thigh on trunk; if thigh is fixed, it flexes the trunk onto the thigh as in sitting up
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psoas
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12th thoracic body; transverse process, bodies & intervertebral discs of the 5 lumbar vertebrae
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lesser trochanter of femur along with iliacus
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lumbar plexus
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flexes thigh on trunk; if thigh fixed, it flexes trunk onto thigh as in sitting up
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pectineus
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superior ramus of pubis
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upper end shaft of femur
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femoral nerve
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flexes and adducts thigh
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quadriceps femoris, rectus femoris
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straight head from anterior inferior iliac spine; reflected head from ilium above acetabulum
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quadriceps tendon into patella; into tibial tuberosity by patellar tendon
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femoral nerve
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extension of leg
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quadriceps femoris, vastus lateralis
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upper end and shaft of femur
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quadriceps tendon into patella; into tibial tuberosity by patellar tendon
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femoral nerve
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extension of leg
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quadriceps femoris, vastus medialis
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upper end and shaft of femur
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quadriceps tendon into patella; into tibial tuberosity by patellar tendon
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femoral nerve
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extension of leg
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quadriceps femoris, vastus intermedius
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shaft of femur
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quadriceps tendon into patella; into tibial tuberosity by patellar tendon
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femoral nerve
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extension of leg
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Muscles of Medial Compartment of Thigh
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gracilis
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inferior ramus of pubis; ramus of ischium
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upper part of shaft of tibia on medial surface
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obturator nerve
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adducts thigh and flexes leg
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adductor longus
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body of pubis
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posterior surface of shaft of femur
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obturator nerve
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adducts thigh; assists in lateral rotation
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adductor brevis
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inferior ramus of pubis
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posterior surface of shaft of femur
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obturator nerve
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adducts thigh; assists in lateral rotation
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adductor magnus
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inferior ramus of pubis; ramus of ischium, ischial tuberosity
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posterior surface of shaft of femur near linea aspera; adductor tubercle of femur
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obturator nerve; tibial nerve to hamstring part
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adducts thigh and assists in lateral rotation; hamstring part extends thigh
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Muscles of Posterior Compartment of Thigh
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biceps femoris
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long head from ischial tuberosity; short head from shaft of femur
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head of fibula
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long head:tibial; short head:common peroneal
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flexes and laterally rotates leg; long head extends thigh
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semitendinosus
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ischial tuberosity
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upper part medial surface of shaft of tibia
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tibial nerve
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flexes and medially rotates leg; extends thigh
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semimembranosus
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ischial tuberosity
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medial condyle of tibia; forms oblique popliteal ligament
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tibial nerve
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flexes and medially rotates leg; extends thigh
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adductor magnus (hamstring part)
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ischial tuberosity
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adductor tubercle of femur
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tibial nerve
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extends thigh
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Muscles of Anterior Compartment of the Leg
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tibialis anterior
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shaft of tibia and interosseous membrane
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medial cuneiform & base of first metatarsal
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deep peroneal nerve
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extends the foot; inverts foot at subtalar and transverse tarsal joints; supports medial longitudinal arch
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extensor digitorum
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shaft of fibula and interosseous membrane
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extensor expansion of lateral four toes
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deep peroneal nerve
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extends toes; dorsiflexes (extends) foot
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peroneus tertius
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shaft of fibula & interosseous membrane
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base of 5th metatarsal bone
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deep peroneal nerve
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dorsiflexes (extends) foot; everts foot at subtalar and transverse tarsal joints
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extensor hallucis longus
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shaft of fibula & interosseous membrane
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base of distal phalanx of big toe
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deep peroneal nerve
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extends big toe; dorsiflexes (extends) foot; inverts foot at subtalar and transverse tarsal joints
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Muscles of Lateral Compartment of Leg
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peroneus longus
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shaft of fibula
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base of 1st metatarsal & medial cuneiform
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superficial peroneal nerve
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plantar flexes foot; everts foot at subtalar & transverse tarsal joints; supports lateral longitudinal and transverse arches of foot
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peroneus brevis
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shaft of fibula
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base of 5th metatarsal bone
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superficial peroneal nerve
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plantar flexes foot; everts foot at subtalar & transverse tarsal joints; supports lateral longitudinal arch
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Muscles of Posterior Compartment of the Leg
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gastrocnemius
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medial and lateral condyles of femur
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by way of Achilles tendon to calcaneum
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tibial nerve
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plantar flexes foot; flexes leg
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plantaris
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lateral supracondylar ridge of femur
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calcaneum
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tibial nerve
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plantar flexes foot; flexes leg
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soleus
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shafts of tibia and fibula
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by way of achilles tendon into calcaneum
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tibial nerve
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with gastrocnemius & plantaris is powerful plantar flexor of foot; provides main propulsive force in walking & running
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popliteus
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lateral condyle of femur
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shaft of tibia
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tibial nerve
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flexes leg; unlocks full extension of knee by laterally rotating femur on tibia
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flexor digitorum longus
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shaft of tibia
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distal phalanges of lateral four toes
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tibial nerve
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flexes distal phalanges of lateral four toes; plantar flexes foot; supports medial and lateral longitudinal arches of foot
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flexor hallucis longus
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shaft of fibula
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base of distal phalanx of big toe
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tibial nerve
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flexes distal phalanx of big toe; plantar flexes foot; supports medial longitudinal arch
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tibialis posterior
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shafts of tibia and fibula & interosseous membrane
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tuberosity of navicular bone
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tibial nerve
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plantar flexes foot; inverts foot at subtalar and transverse tarsal joints; supports medial longitudinal arch of foot
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Muscles on the Dorsum of Foot
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extensor digitorum brevis
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Calcaneum
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by four tendons into the proximal phalanx of big toe and long extensor tendons to 2nd, 3rd and 4th toes
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deep peroneal nerve
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extends toes
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Muscles of the Sole of the Foot (First Layer)
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abductor hallucis
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medial tubercle of calcaneum; flexor retinaculum
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medial side, base of proximal phalanx of big toe
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medial plantar nerve
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flexes, abducts big toe; supports medial arch
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flexor digitorum brevis
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medial tubercle of calcaneum
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middle phalanx of four lateral toes
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medial plantar nerve
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flexes lateral four toes; supports medial & lateral longitudinal arches
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abductor digiti minimi
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medial & lateral tubercles of calcaneum
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lateral side base of proximal phalanx 5th toe
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lateral plantar nerve
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flexes, abducts 5th toe; supports lateral longitudinal arch
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muscles of Sole of Foot (Second Layer)
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flexor accessorius (quadratus plantae)
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medial and lateral sides of calcaneum
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tendons flexor digitorum longus
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lateral plantar nerve
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aids long flexor tendon to flex lateral four toes
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flexor digitorum longus tendon
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shaft of tibia
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base of distal phalanx of lateral four toes
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tibial nerve
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flexes distal phalanges of lateral four toes; plantar flexes foot; supports longitudinal arch
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lumbricals
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tendons of flexor digitorum longus
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dorsal extensor expansion of lateral four toes
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1st lumbrical from medial plantar; remainder lumbricals from deep branch of lateral plantar nerve
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extends toes at interphalangeal joints
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flexor hallucis longus
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shaft of fibula
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base of distal phalanx of big toe
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tibial nerve
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flexes distal phalanx of big toe; plantar flexes foot; supports medial longitudinal arch
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Muscles of Sole of Foot (Third Layer)
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flexor hallucis brevis
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cuboid, lateral cuneiform bones; tibialis posterior insertion
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medial & lateral sides of base of proximal phalanx of big toe
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medial plantar nerve
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flexes metatarsophalangeal joint of big toe; supports medial longitudinal arch
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adductor hallucis (oblique head)
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bases of 2nd, 3rd & 4th metatarsal bones
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lateral side base of proximal phalanx big toe
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deep branch of lateral plantar
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flexes big toe, supports transverse arch
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adductor hallucis (transverse head)
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plantar ligaments
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lateral side of base of proximal phalanx big toe
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deep branch of lateral plantar nerve
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flexes big toe; supports transverse arch
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flexor digiti minimi brevis
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base of 5th metatarsal bone
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lateral side of base of proximal phalanx of big toe
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superior branch of lateral plantar nerve
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flexes little toe
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Muscles of Sole of Foot (Fourth Layer)
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dorsal interossei (4)
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adjacent sides of metatarsal bones
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bases of phalanges and dorsal expansion of corresponding toes
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lateral plantar nerve
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abduct toes with 2nd toe as the reference; flex metatarsophalangeal joints; extend interphalangeal joint
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plantar interossei (3)
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3rd, 4th, and 5th metatarsal bones
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bases of phalanges & dorsal expansion of corresponding toes
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lateral plantar nerve
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adduct toes with 2nd toe as reference; flex metatarsophalangeal joints; extend interphalangeal joints
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tendon of peroneus longus
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see above
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see above
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see above
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see above
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tendon of tibialis posterior
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see above
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see above
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see above
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see above
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