Atlas of Human Anatomy by Netter

Lateral (= everter) compartment

Primarily everters of the foot

Include

Peroneus longus

Peroneus brevis

Both plantarflex ankle, evert foot, and hold up lateral longitudinal arch of foot

Muscles of the Lateral Leg

Muscle Origin Insertion Innervation Blood Supply Action

Fibularis

(peroneus)

longus

Head and proximal two

thirds of lateral fibula

Plantar base of first

metatarsal and medial

cuneiform

Superficial fibular

nerve (L5 - S2)

Anterior tibial

artery, fibular

artery

Everts foot and weakly

plantarflexes ankle

Fibularis

(peroneus)

brevis

Distal two thirds of

lateral surface of fibula

Dorsal surface of tuberosity

on base of fifth metatarsal

Superficial fibular

nerve (L5 - S2)

Fibular artery Everts foot and weakly

plantarflexes ankle

Posterior compartment

Comprised of superficial and deep groups

Separated by transverse intermuscular septum

Superficial group = plantar flexors of the foot

Gastrocnemius

Soleus

Plantaris

Gastrocnemius and plantaris cross the knee joint and thus also flex knee

All three contribute to calcaneal tendon

Deep group = plantar flexors of the foot

Tibialis posterior (also inverts foot and supports medial longitudinal arch of foot)

Flexor hallucis longus (also plantarflexes interphalangeal joint of hallux and supports medial longitudinal arch of foot)

Flexor digitorum longus (also plantarflexes DIP joints of lateral four toes and supports medial and lateral longitudinal arches

of foot)

Popliteus

Forms inferior floor of popliteal fossa

Tendon lies between fibrous capsule and synovial membrane of knee joint

Flexes knee

Rotates femur five degrees laterally on tibial plateau to unlock knee so flexion can occur

Muscles of the Posterior Leg
page 260
page 261
Muscle Origin Insertion InnervationBlood Supply Action
Superficial Muscles
GastrocnemiusLateral head: lateral aspect of
lateral condyle of femur.
Medial head: popliteal surface
above medial condyle of femur

Posterior aspect of calcaneus via

the calcaneal tendon

Tibial

nerve (S1-

S2)

Popliteal

artery

Plantarflexes the

ankle joint,

assists in flexion

of the knee joint

Soleus Posterior aspect of head of

fibula, proximal fourth of

posterior surface of fibula,

soleal line of tibia

Posterior aspect of calcaneus via

the calcaneal tendon

Tibial

nerve (S1-

S2)

Posterior tibia

artery, fibular

artery,

popliteal

artery

Plantarflexes the

ankle and

stabilizes the leg

over the foot

Plantaris Popliteal surface of femur Calcaneal tendon Tibial

nerve (L5-

S1)

Popliteal

artery

Weakly assists

gastrocnemius

Deep Muscles

Popliteus Lateral aspect of lateral condyle

of femur and lateral meniscus

Posterior tibia above soleal line Tibial

nerve (L4 -

S1)

Popliteal

artery

Unlocks and

weakly flexes

knee joint

Flexor hallucis

longus

Distal two-thirds of posterior

fibula and inferior part of

interosseous membrane

Base of distal phalanx of great toe

(hallux)

Tibial

nerve (L5 -

S2)

Fibular artery Flexes great toe,

weakly

plantarflexes the

ankle

Flexor

digitorum

longus

Medial part of posterior tibia

inferior to soleal line

Plantar bases of distal phalanges

of lateral four toes

Tibial

nerve (L5-

S1)

Posterior

tibial artery

Flexes lateral four

toes, plantarflexes

ankle

Tibialis

posterior

Posterior tibia below soleal line,

interosseous membrane,

proximal half of posterior fibula

Tuberosity of navicular bone, all

cuneiforms, cuboid and bases of

second through fourth

metatarsals

Tibial

nerve (L4-

L5)

Fibular artery Plantarflexes foot

at the ankle and

inverts the foot