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Plantar Interossei (Foot)
The plantar interossei are a group of intrinsic muscles within the foot. They form the deepest layer of plantar muscles and have a unipennate shape. Attachments: Originates from the medial side of metatarsals three to five. Attaches to the medial sides of the phalanges of digits three to five. Actions: Adduction of the lateral three digits and […]
Dorsal Interossei (Foot)
The dorsal interossei are a group of intrinsic muscles within the foot. They form the deepest layer of plantar muscles and have a bipennate shape. Attachments: Originates from the lateral aspect of the metatarsals. The first muscle attaches to the medial side of the proximal phalanx of the second digit. The second to fourth interossei attach […]
Flexor Digiti Minimi Brevis (Foot)
The flexor digiti minimi brevis is an intrinsic muscle of the foot. It is located within the third plantar muscle layer of the foot. Attachments: Originates from the base of the fifth metatarsal and attaches to the base of the proximal phalanx of the fifth digit. Actions: Flexion of the little toe at the metatarsophalangeal […]
Lumbricals (Foot)
The lumbricals are a set of intrinsic muscles of the foot. They are located within the second plantar muscle layer of the foot. Attachments: Originates from the tendons of flexor digitorum longus. Attaches to the extensor hoods of the lateral four digits. Actions: Flexion at the metatarsophalangeal joints and extension at the interphalangeal joints. Innervation: […]
Abductor Digiti Minimi (Foot)
The abductor digiti minimi is an intrinsic muscle of the foot. It is located within the first (most superficial) plantar muscle layer of the foot. Attachments: Originates from the medial and lateral tubercles of the calcaneus and the plantar aponeurosis. It attaches to the lateral base of the proximal phalanx of the 5th digit. Actions: […]
The Arches of the Foot
The foot has three arches: two longitudinal (medial and lateral) arches and one anterior transverse arch (Fig. 1). They are formed by the tarsal and metatarsal bones, and supported by ligaments and tendons in the foot. Their shape allows them to act in the same way as a spring, bearing the weight of the body and absorbing the shock produced during […]
Muscles of the Foot
The muscles acting on the foot can be divided into two distinct groups; extrinsic and intrinsic muscles. Extrinsic muscles arise from the anterior, posterior and lateral compartments of the leg. They are mainly responsible for actions such as eversion, inversion, plantarflexion and dorsiflexion of the foot. Intrinsic muscles are located within the foot and are responsible for the fine […]
Bones of the Foot: Tarsals, Metatarsals and Phalanges
The bones of the foot provide mechanical support for the soft tissues; helping the foot withstand the weight of the body whilst standing and in motion. They can be divided into three groups: Tarsals – a set of seven irregularly shaped bones. They are situated proximally in the foot in the ankle area. Metatarsals – connect the […]
Adductor Hallucis
The adductor hallucis is an intrinsic muscle of the foot. It is located within the third plantar muscle layer of the foot and has two heads – oblique and transverse. Attachments: Oblique head – originates from the bases of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th metatarsals. Transverse head – originates from the plantar ligaments of the […]
Flexor Hallucis Brevis
The flexor hallucis brevis is an intrinsic muscle of the foot. It is located within the third plantar muscle layer of the foot and has two heads of origin. Attachments: Lateral head – originates from the plantar surfaces of the cuboid and lateral cuneiforms Medial head – originates from the tendon of the posterior tibialis […]