Dorsal Flexors

A number of muscles that function to move the ankle, foot, and toes are located in the lower leg. They attach the femur (upper leg bone), tibia, and fibula (lower leg bones) and to various bones in the foot and are responsible for a variety of movements - moving the foot upward (dorsiflexion) or downward (plantar flexion), and turning the sole of the foot inward (inversion) or outward (eversion). The "dorsal flexor muscles" include the following: The "tibialis anterior" is a dorsal flexor and is an elongated, spindle-shaped muscle located on the front of the lower leg. It arises from the surface of the tibia to pass on the inside over the far end of the tibia, and attaches to bones of the ankle and foot. Contraction of the tibialis anterior causes dorsiflexion and inversion of the foot. The tibialis posterior muscle helps stabilize the foot while walking. The "peroneus tertius" is a muscle of variable size that connects the fibula to the outside of the foot. It functions in dorsiflexion and eversion of the foot. The"extensor digitorum longus" is situated along the outside of the lower leg, just behind the tibialis anterior. It comes from close to the midline of the tibia and the shaft of the fibula. Its tendon divides into four parts as it passes over the front of the ankle. These parts continue over the surface of the foot and attach to the four smaller toes. The actions of this muscle include dorsiflexion of the foot, eversion of the foot, and extension of the toes.