Dorsale Unterschenkelmuskulatur/en

The dorsal lower leg musculature is also known as the calf musculature. It includes the flexor ligament and is anatomically divided into the superficial and deep layers.

Exercises

Musculature

Neighboring structures

Ventral lower leg musclesLateral lower leg muscles

Body regions

Lower leg musclesMusculature lower extremityLower extremity

Organ system

Active musculoskeletal systemMusculoskeletal system

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Superficial calf muscles

Anatomy of the dorsal
lower leg muscles

Anatomy of the triceps surae muscle

Muculus triceps surae

The triceps surae muscle is divided into three muscle parts. These merge into the common attachment tendon, which is called the Achilles tendon.

Musculus gastrocnemius

The gastrocnemius muscle is also called the two-headed calf muscle or twin muscle. Functionally, this muscle works together with the soleus muscle. Therefore, these two muscles are combined to form the triceps surae muscle. The gastrocnemius muscle has two muscle heads. The caput mediale originates at the epicondylus medialis femori, whereas the caput laterale originates at the epicondylus lateralis femoris. The two muscle heads meet at an acute angle. This creates a caudal boundary of the popliteal fossa. In about one-third of all cases, a sesamoid bone, the fabella, is expressed in the caput laterale. The broad terminal tendon arises from the junction of the two muscle bellies. This tendon fuses with the end tendon of the soleus muscle to form the Achilles tendon and attaches to the tuber calcanei of the calcaneus.

Musculus soleus

The soleus muscle, also known as the clod muscle, forms a functional unit together with the gastrocnemius muscle. The muscle is multipinnate and has an aponeurosis separate from the gastrocnemius muscle. The muscle originates at the caput fibulae and at the upper third of the dorsal surface of the fibula and tibia. The two origins form an interspace called the muscle arcade. The insertion, together with the gastrocnemius muscle, lies across the Achilles tendon at the calcaneal tuberosity.

Musculus plantaris

The plantar muscle is also called the plantar muscle. It is a small, double-jointed muscle with a relatively short and pronounced muscle belly. This passes into a thin tendon about 30 to 40 cm long. The muscle can be either rudimentary or completely absent. Its origin lies at the linea supracondylaris lateralis of the femur and at the joint capsule of the knee joint. The long tendon radiates into the fascia of the soleus muscle and ends in the Achilles tendon. In some cases, the plantaris muscle also attaches to the medial aspect of the tuber calcanei or to the plantar aponeurosis.

Deep calf muscles

Anatomy of the individual deep
calf muscles

Musculus tibialis posterior

The posterior tibialis muscle is also known as the posterior tibialis muscle. It originates on the posterior surface of the membrana interossea cruris and the surfaces of the tibia and fibula adjacent to it. Some portions of the muscle originate on the deep leaflet of the fascia cruris. In the distal section of the lower leg, the chiasma crurae is formed by the crossing of the tendon of the tibialis posterior muscle and the tendon of the flexor digitorum longus muscle. The tendon fans out toward its insertion and inserts mainly at the tuberosity of the os naviculare. Other insertion points are located at the medial os cuneiforme and the bases of the Os metatarsale II to IV.

Musculus flexor hallucis longus

The flexor hallucis longus muscle represents the long big toe flexor. It originates on the posterior surface of the fibula as well as the membrana interossea cruris and the septum intermusculare cruris posterius. It runs down to the tarsus, where the muscle bends. It then runs within the sulcus tendinis musculi flexoris hallucis longi below the sustentaculum tali. The insertion of the flexor hallucis longus muscle lies anterior to the distal phalanx of the great toe. It has other secondary attachments. These are located n the terminal phalanges of toes II-IV.

Musculus flexor digitorum longus

The origin of the flexor digitorum longus muscle has its origins at the facies posterior as well as the margo medialis of the tibia. Together with the tendon of the posterior tibialis muscle, the tendon of the flexor digitorum longus muscle forms the chiasma crurale. This is formed by the crossing of the two tendons in the distal region of the lower leg. Another crossing of the tendon of the flexor digitorum longus muscle with the tendon of the flexor hallucis muscle creates the plantar chiasm in the plantar region of the foot. For the attachment of the flexor digitorum longus muscle, the tendon splits. The tendon parts then inseriate at the end phlanges of the toes II-V. This point is also the origin of the Musculi lumbricales pedis.

Musculus popliteus

The polpiteus muscle or popliteus muscle is located on the dorsal surface of the knee joint. The muscle originates at the codylus lateralis of the distal femur. The insertion is on the joint capsule of the knee joint and below the condyle on the posterior surface of the tibia (planum popliteum tibiae). The fascia of the muscle is reinforced by fibers of the ligamentum popliteum arcuatum, the ligamentum cruciatum posterius and the tendon of the musculus semimembranosus.

Innervation

All muscles of the calf musculature are innervated by the tibial nerve from the sciatic nerve (S1, S2).

Function

Plantar flexion and suspension of the foot are performed by the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. The flexion of the knee joint is performed by this gastrocnemius muscle. The soleus muscle prevents the lower leg from bending forward in the upper ankle joint and thus secures the stance. The third muscle of the triceps surae muscle, the plantaris muscle, means little functionally. Originally, the muscle served to support the climbing process, but now it has only a minor support function in plantar flexion in the ankle joint as well as flexion in the knee joint.

Adduction of the foot is performed by the posterior tibialis muscle. This muscle also participates in supination of the foot. Furthermore, it participates in plantar flexion. Together with the tendon of the fibularis longus muscle, the tibialis posterior muscle stabilizes the physiological transverse arch of the foot.

The flexor hallucis longus muscle also plays a role in plantar flexion and supination of the foot. When standing, the felxor hallucis longus muscle stabilizes the longitudinal arch of the bony foot. This occurs mainly through the plantar chiasm.

The flxor digitorum longus muscle is responsible for flexion of the toes. Like the other muscles of the calf, it participates in plantar flexion and supination of the foot.

Through the popliteus muscle, further flexion can be performed on the already flexed knee. The internal rotation of the lower leg against the thigh is also caused by this muscle. The popliteus muscle pulls the outer meniscus (meniscus lateralis) dorsally during knee flexion. This prevents the meniscus from becoming trapped during flexion. When the knee is positioned and extended, the popliteus muscle rotates the femur inward.

Free exploration

Look at the structures of the dorsal lower leg muscles in 3D and explore them freely. Afterwards, you can check your learned knowledge through the exercise tasks.

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ÜBUNGSAUFGABEN

WEITERE ARTIKEL

Fibula

Ventral lower leg muscles

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