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Leg & Foot Muscles
The calf muscles behind (superficial and deep posterior compartments), the dorsiflexors in front, the evertors on the side, and the four layers of small intrinsic muscles in the sole of the foot.
This page lists all 36 of them in the reference. Open any muscle for its origin, insertion, actions, nerve supply and clinical pearl.
| Muscle | Main actions | Nerve supply |
|---|---|---|
| Abductor Digiti Minimi (Foot) | Moves the little toe away from the midline; Bends the little toe | Lateral plantar nerve (S2–S3) |
| Abductor Hallucis | Moves the great toe away from the midline of the foot; Bends the great toe | Medial plantar nerve (S2–S3) |
| Achilles Tendon Muscles (Plantaris and Triceps Surae) | Plantarflex the ankle | Tibial nerve (S1–S2) |
| Adductor Hallucis | Pulls the great toe toward the midline of the foot; Supports the transverse arch | Lateral plantar nerve, deep branch (S2–S3) |
| Anterior Compartment of the Leg (Group) | Lift the foot and toes upward (dorsiflexion and toe extension) | Deep fibular nerve (L4–S1) |
| Deep Posterior Compartment of the Leg (Group) | Curl the toes, invert the foot and support the arch | Tibial nerve (L4–S3) |
| Dorsal Foot Muscles (Extensor Digitorum and Hallucis Brevis) | Straighten the toes | Deep fibular nerve (L5–S1) |
| Dorsal Interossei (Foot) | Spread the toes apart (around the second toe's axis) | Lateral plantar nerve (S2–S3) |
| Extensor Digitorum Brevis | Straightens (extends) the toes | Deep fibular nerve (L5–S1) |
| Extensor Digitorum Longus | Straightens (extends) toes 2–5; Lifts the foot upward (dorsiflexion) | Deep fibular nerve (L5–S1) |
| Extensor Hallucis Longus | Straightens (extends) the great toe; Helps lift the foot upward (dorsiflexion) | Deep fibular nerve (L4–L5) |
| Fibular Retinaculum Muscles (Fibularis Longus and Brevis at the Ankle) | Evert the foot and brace the lateral ankle | Superficial fibular nerve (L5–S2) |
| Fibularis (Peroneus) Brevis | Turns the sole outward (eversion); Helps point the foot downward | Superficial fibular nerve (L5–S2) |
| Fibularis (Peroneus) Longus | Turns the sole outward (eversion); Helps point the foot downward | Superficial fibular nerve (L5–S2) |
| Fibularis (Peroneus) Tertius | Turns the sole outward (eversion); Helps lift the foot upward (dorsiflexion) | Deep fibular nerve (L5–S1) |
| Flexor Digiti Minimi Brevis (Foot) | Bends the little toe at its base joint | Lateral plantar nerve, superficial branch (S2–S3) |
| Flexor Digitorum Brevis | Curls the lesser toes at their middle joints | Medial plantar nerve (S2–S3) |
| Flexor Digitorum Longus | Curls the toes (flexes the toe joints); Helps point the foot downward and supports the arch | Tibial nerve (S2–S3) |
| Flexor Hallucis Brevis | Bends the great toe at its base joint (MTP joint) | Medial plantar nerve (S1–S2) |
| Flexor Hallucis Longus | Bends the great toe — the final push-off in walking and running; Helps point the foot downward | Tibial nerve (S2–S3) |
| Gastrocnemius | Points the foot downward (plantarflexion); Bends the knee | Tibial nerve (S1–S2) |
| Lateral Compartment of the Leg (Group) | Turn the sole outward (eversion); Support the lateral foot and arches | Superficial fibular nerve (L5–S2) |
| Lumbricals (Foot) | Bend the toes at their base joints while straightening the tip joints | Medial plantar nerve (1st) and lateral plantar nerve (2nd–4th) |
| Plantar Interossei (Foot) | Bring the toes together toward the second toe | Lateral plantar nerve (S2–S3) |
| Plantar Intrinsic Muscles (Overview) | Fine toe control, arch support and balance on the forefoot | Medial and lateral plantar nerves (S1–S3) |
| Plantaris | Weakly points the foot downward; Weakly bends the knee | Tibial nerve (S1–S2) |
| Popliteus | Unlocks the knee by rotating the leg outward on the femur; Begins knee flexion | Tibial nerve (L4–S1) |
| Quadratus Plantae | Straightens the pull of the long toe flexor so the toes curl in line | Lateral plantar nerve (S2–S3) |
| Sesamoid Muscles of the Great Toe (Flexor Hallucis Brevis Heads) | Bend the great toe while the sesamoids protect the flexor hallucis longus tendon and spread load | Medial plantar nerve (S1–S2) |
| Soleal Venous Pump (Soleus and Gastrocnemius) | Compress the deep calf veins with every step, returning blood to the heart | Tibial nerve (S1–S2) |
| Soleus | Points the foot downward (plantarflexion); Maintains posture when standing (works continuously) | Tibial nerve (S1–S2) |
| Superficial Posterior Compartment of the Leg (Group) | Point the foot downward (plantarflexion) | Tibial nerve (S1–S2) |
| Tibialis Anterior | Lifts the foot upward (dorsiflexion); Turns the sole inward (inversion) | Deep fibular nerve (L4–L5) |
| Tibialis Anterior Tendon (at the Ankle) | Dorsiflexes and inverts the foot — the first tendon in the 'Tom Hates Anita' order under the extensor retinaculum | Deep fibular nerve (L4–L5) |
| Tibialis Posterior | Points the foot downward (plantarflexion); Turns the sole inward (inversion) | Tibial nerve (L4–L5) |
| Triceps Surae (Calf Group) | Points the foot downward for push-off in walking, running and jumping | Tibial nerve (S1–S2) |
Please note: This page is an anatomy education summary for students and curious readers, not medical advice. Attachment points are given in their classic short form; individual anatomy varies, and detailed dissection-level descriptions belong in an anatomy atlas.