The feet and toes are essential elements in body movement. They bear and propel the weight of the body during walking and running, and help to maintain balance during changes of body position. The foot can adapt itself to different surfaces and absorb mechanical shocks as well. Each foot has about thirty-three muscles, some of which are attached to the lower leg. There are four plantar (sole) muscle layers. The first layer includes the adductor hallucis, the flexor digitorum brevis, and the abductor digiti minimi. The second layer consists of the lumbricals, and the third layer includes the flexor hallucis brevis, the adductor hallucis, and the flexor digiti minimi brevis. The fourth layer is composed of the interossei muscles.
The abductor digiti minimi lies under the outside border of the foot. It originates from the calcaneum (heel bone) and runs along the outer edge of the foot, inserting into the outer side of the base of the first phalanx of the little toe. This muscle is for the most part concealed by the dense, fibrous fat pad of the sole of the foot. It works to flex and draw the little toe away from the foot.
The abductor hallucis flexes more than it abducts (draws away) the big toe. It has an elongated, oblong form that begins from a wide origin on the bottom of the calcaneous (heel bone), the edge of the flexor retinaculum, and the plantar aponeurosis (a strong fibrous band of fascia that extends along the bottom of the foot) and inserts on the inside of the base of the first phalanx of the big toe.
The adductor transversus hallucis is a narrow, flat band of muscle tissue that stretches across the metatarsal bones and lies between the bones and the flexor tendons. The muscle is named for the direction of its muscle fibers.
Four dorsal interossei muscles are located between the metatarsal bones. They are bipenniform muscles (each muscle has two points of attachment). The heads arise from adjacent sides of the metatarsal bones near the ankle and are inserted in the base of the first phalanges (toe bones). In addition there are three plantar interossei that lie beneath the metatarsal bones. The plantar interossei are single muscles connected to only one metatarsal bone. When these muscles contract, they stiffen the central part of the foot. You can feel this when you hook your toes under something and try to lift it by bending your knee.
The extensor digitorum brevis originates from the front end of the calcaneum (heel bone), the inferior extensor retinaculum, and the lateral talocalvaneal ligament. It is made up of four slender, flat bellies that pass over the top of the foot. Three of the bellies insert into tendons of the middle three toes. The most medial portion of the extensor digitorum brevis is also referred to as the extensor hallucis brevis. It inserts into the base of the first phalanx of the big toe. The muscles work to extend the big toe and the second, third, and fourth toes.
The long, thin extensor digitorum longus muscle actually consists of four combined bellies and their tendons. The belly arises from the tibia and the front edge of the fibula and extends about three-fourths of the way down the lower leg. The four tendons lie close to each other and appear as one tendon that continues down to the front of the ankle. When the tendons reach the back of the foot they separate and extend to the middle and distal phalanges (bones) of the toes two through five. They extend the toes (separate the toes) and bend the foot toward the leg. The tendons may clearly be seen on the top of the foot when the toes are extended.
The extensor digitorum brevis originates from the front end of the calcaneum (heel bone), the inferior extensor retinaculum, and the lateral talocalvaneal ligament. It is made up of four slender, flat bellies that pass over the top of the foot. Three of the bellies insert into tendons of the middle three toes. The most medial portion of the extensor digitorum brevis is also referred to as the extensor hallucis brevis. It inserts into the base of the first phalanx of the big toe. The muscles work to extend the big toe and the second, third, and fourth toes.
The extensor hallucis longus for the most part lies deep in the lower leg. It is a thin, elongated, and flattened muscle that originates from the middle of the fibula (lower leg bone) and tapers into a long, narrow tendon that emerges from between the extensor digitorum longus and the tibialis anterior, extends downward across the ankle and inserts in the top base of the distal phalanx of the big toe. It extends the big toe and assists in flexing the foot.
The flexor digiti minimi brevis is the muscle of the little toe. It is a very narrow muscle that flexes (bends) the little toe.
The flexor digitorum brevis muscle lies in the middle of the sole of the foot. It divides into four tendons and extends to each toe. This muscle helps flex (bend) the toes.
The flexor digitorum longus is a deep muscle originating from the middle half of the back of the tibia and runs deep under the foot inserting in the bases of the distal phalanges of the second, third, fourth, and fifth toes. It flexes the toes for the final push-off in walking and running. It also flexes the foot. It is attached to the flexor hallucis longus muscle, which flexes the big toe.
The flexor hallucis brevis is one of the muscle of the big toe. The muscle divides in two and inserts in the inner and outer sides of the base of the first phalanx, and as the name implies, it works to flex or bend the toe.
The flexor hallucis longus (flexor of the big toe) is a large superficial muscle that lies on the fibular side of the leg. It is attached to the flexor digitorum longus muscle.
There are four small lumbrical muscles that are associated with the tendons between the four small toes. These muscles work with the tendons to flex the corresponding digital joint.
The peroneous brevis is a flat, elongated muscle located on the outside of the lower half of the leg. It lies just below the peroneus longus muscle, originating from the lower surface of the fibula (lower leg bone) and inserting in the base of the metatarsal bone of the little toe. It works with the peroneus longus to extend the foot.
The peroneus longus is a superficial muscle that runs along the upper part of the outside of the leg. It originates from the upper shaft of the fibula (lower leg bone), descends across the outer side of the calcaneum (heel bone), crosses the sole of the foot and is inserted in the outer side of the base of the metatarsal bone of the big toe. This muscle works with the peroneus brevis to extend the foot.
The peroneus tertius lies against the peroneus brevis muscle. It is connected to the extensor digitorum longus, and often considered a part of it. The peroneus tertius arises from the lower third of the fibula (lower leg bone) and the adjacent interosseous membrane and continues downward and slightly forward, across the ankle, where it tapers into a narrow, flat tendon that passes over the extensor digitorum brevis and inserts into the fifth metatarsal bone (little toe). This muscle lifts the foot.
The soleus is a thick muscle located on the back of the lower leg. It originates from the upper part of the fibula lower leg bone) and the tendonous arch connecting the head of the fibula to the tibia. The muscle is thickest at its mid-section where its flattened form curves around the deep flexor muscles of the foot and toes. The muscle tapers low, just above the ankle, and its tendon continues on inserting in the middle part of the calcaneum (heel bone). This muscle is used to point the foot or raise the heel, which lifts the body. Its continuous contraction of the soleus prevents the body from falling forward when standing.
The tibialis anterior is a thick and fleshy muscle that, as the name implies, sits on the front of the tibia, the main lower leg bone. It originates from the upper half of the tibia, just below the knee and tapers into a long, prominent tendon about two-thirds of the way down the leg. The long tendon goes through the ankle to insert in the bottom of the inside arch of the foot (in the tarsal bones). This muscle controls the descent of the foot during walking after the heel strikes the ground.
The tibialis posterior is a deep muscle that lies between the flexor longus digitorum and the flexor longus hallucis. Its arises from the shaft of the tibia and the interosseous membrane and tapers into a long tendon. The tendon of this muscle inserts into the bottom arch of the foot. The tibialis posterior is an extensor of the foot and ankle joint. It works with the tibialis anterior to turn the sole of the foot inward. It also helps support the arch of the foot when walking.
Links:
dorsum
of foot
plantar
foot - layer 1
plantar
foot - layer 2
plantar
foot - layer 3
plantar
foot - layer 4
ankle
- lateral ligaments
ankle
- posterior ligaments
medial
ankle
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