Deep Muscles of the Leg and Foot (Posterior View)
Anatomy Terms
- Abductor Digiti Minimi Muscle of Foot
- Abductor Hallucis Muscle
- Adductor Brevis Muscle
- Adductor Longus Muscle
- Adductor Magnus Muscle
- Biceps Femoris Muscle (Long Head)
- Biceps Femoris Muscle (Short Head)
- Calcaneal (Achilles) Tendon
- Dorsal Interosseous Muscles of Foot
- Extensor Digitorum Longus Muscle
- Extensor Hallucis Brevis Muscle
- Extensor Hallucis Longus Muscle
- Flexor Digitorum Brevis Muscle
- Flexor Digitorum Longus Muscle
- Flexor Hallucis Longus Muscle
- Flexor Retinaculum of Foot
- Gastrocnemius Muscle (Lateral Head)
- Gastrocnemius Muscle (Medial Head)
- Gluteus Maximus Muscle
- Gluteus Medius Muscle
- Gluteus Minimus Muscle
- Gracilis Muscle
- Iliacus Muscle
- Iliopsoas Muscle
- Iliotibial Tract
- Inferior Extensor Retinaculum
- Inferior Gemellus Muscle
- Lumbrical Muscles of Foot
- Muscles of the Ankle and Foot
- Muscles of the Hip
- Muscles of the Knee
- Peroneus Tertius Muscle
- Plantaris Muscle
- Quadriceps Femoris Tendon
- Rectus Femoris Muscle
- Semimembranosus Muscle
- Semitendinosus Muscle
- Soleus Muscle
- Superior Extensor Retinaculum
- Tibialis Anterior Muscle
- Vastus Intermedius Muscle
- Vastus Medialis Muscle
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Full Deep Muscles of the Leg and Foot (Posterior View) Description
[Continued from above] . . . standing and walking possible. This makes sense, since the legs produce a rotary motion that propels the body forward, upsetting the sense of balance. Placing one foot in front of the other is a process in which one constantly loses and regains balance as each step finds a new base. Synchronizing movements of the arms and legs, the muscles ensure that balance is restored before the body falls over.
Muscles and tendons anchor the joints at the pelvis, knee, and ankle together with the major bones of the leg and those of the foot. Many of these muscles are particularly large. This includes the hamstring muscles, and their tendon (hamstring), which flex and rotate the leg laterally and extend the thigh. Below that, the complex ligamentous system of the knee is the site of muscle attachment for some of the most powerful muscles in the body.
And below the knee, a number of muscles that function to move the ankle, foot, and toes are located in the lower leg. Included here are the muscles of the calf, which join the strong Achilles tendon, descend to the heel, and attach to the calcaneus. Altogether, they are responsible for a variety of movements of the foot and ankle, in addition to maintaining balance when the body is at rest.