Muscles / Lower legs
Gastrocnemius (medial head)
- Lower legs
- Leg & ankle
- Superficial layer
Part of Gastrocnemius.
Anatomy
- Origin
- Popliteal surface of the femur above the medial condyle
- Insertion
- Posterior calcaneus via the calcaneal tendon
Actions
- Plantarflexes the ankle
- Flexes the knee
Notes
- The common site of "tennis leg" (medial head strain).
References (4)
- Standring S, ed. Elsevier. Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. 42nd ed.
- Dalley AF, Agur AMR. Wolters Kluwer. Moore's Clinically Oriented Anatomy. 9th ed.
- Neumann DA. Elsevier. Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System: Foundations for Rehabilitation. 3rd ed.
- Betts JG, Young KA, Wise JA, et al. OpenStax (free, openly licensed textbook). Anatomy and Physiology 2e