Summary Lower limb muscle anatomy

Leg muscles
Muscle Origin Insertion
Anterior compartment =
Dorsiflexion of ankle
(extension)
Lateral shaft of tibia + IO Medial cuneiform + base of 1st
Tibialis anterior membrane metatarsal
Extensor digitorum longus Anterior shaft of fibula Extensor expansion of lateral 4 toes
Extensor hallucis longus Anterior shaft of fibula Base of distal phalanx of 1st toe
Inferior 1/3rd of fibular
Peroneus tertius shaft Base of 5th metatarsal
Posterior compartment =
Plantarflexion (true flexion)
Superficial Group
Medial and lateral Calcaneal/ Achille's tendon
Gastrocnemius (superficial) femoral condyles
Lateral supracondylar Calcaneus
Plantaris ridge of femur
Calcaneal/ Achille's tendon
Soleus (deepest in this group) Solean line of tibia
Deep Group
Posterior surface of
Flexor hallucis longus fibular shaft Base of distal phalanx of 1st toe
Posterior surface of tibial
and fibular shafts + IO Tuberosity of navicular + cuneiform +
Tibialis posterior membrane cuboid + base of metatarsals 2, 3 and 4
Posterior surface of
Flexor digitorum longus fibular shaft Base of distal phalanx of lateral 4 toes
Lateral compartment =
Eversion of foot (sole of foot
faces laterally)
Base of 1st metatarsal + medial
Head and superior 2/3rds cuneiform (runs along the sole of the
Peroneus (fibularis) longus of lateral shaft of tibia foot)
Inferior 2/3rd of tibial
Peroneus (fibularis) brevis shaft Tuberosity on base of 5th metatarsal