Gastrocnemius muscle

Gastrocnemius muscle
Lateral aspect of right leg.
Gray's	subject #129 482
Origin	superior to articular surfaces of lateral condyle of femur and medial condyle of femur
Insertion	tendo calcaneus (achilles tendon) into mid-posterior calcaneus
Artery	sural arteries
Nerve	tibial nerve from the sciatic, specifically, nerve roots S1–S2
Actions	plantar flexes foot, flexes knee
Antagonist	Tibialis anterior muscle

In humans, the gastrocnemius muscle ( /ˌɡæstrɒkˈniːmiəs/ or /ˌɡæstrəˈniːmiəs/; Latin, from Greek γαστήρ "stomach" and knēmē "leg"; meaning "stomach of leg", referring to the bulging shape of the calf) is a very powerful superficial pennate muscle that is in the back part of the lower leg. It runs from its two heads just above the knee to the heel, and is involved in standing, walking, running and jumping. Along with the soleus muscle it forms the calf muscle. Its function is plantar flexing the foot at the ankle joint and flexing the leg at the knee joint. In a 1967 EMG study, Herman and Bragin concluded that its most important role was plantar flexing in large contractions and in rapid development of tension.

The gastrocnemius is located with the soleus in the posterior (back) compartment of the leg. The lateral head originates from the lateral condyle of the femur, while the medial head originates from the medial condyle of the femur. Its other end forms a common tendon with the soleus muscle; this tendon is known as the calcaneal tendon or Achilles Tendon and inserts onto the posterior surface of the calcaneus, or heel bone.

Deep to the gastrocnemius (farther from the skin) is the soleus muscle. Some anatomists consider both to be a single muscle, the triceps surae or "calf muscle", since they share a common insertion via the Achilles tendon. The plantaris muscle and a portion of its tendon run between the two muscles, which is involved in "locking" the knee from the standing position. Since the anterior compartment of the leg is lateral to the tibia, the bulge of muscle medial to the tibia on the anterior side is actually the posterior compartment. The soleus is superficial to the mid-shaft of the tibia. Frequently there is a sesamoid bone called the "fabella" in the lateral head of gastrocnemius muscle.

Clinical significance

The gastrocnemius muscle is prone to spasms, which are painful, involuntary, contraction of the muscle that may last several minutes.[1]

A severe ankle flexion force may result in an injury of the muscle, commonly referred to as a "torn" or "strained" calf muscle, which is acutely painful and disabling.

The gastrocnemius muscle may also become inflamed due to overuse. Anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy (heat, massage, and stretching) may be useful.

Anatomical abnormalities involving the medial head of gastrocnemius muscle results in popliteal artery entrapment syndrome.

Additional images

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  Right femur. Posterior surface.

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  Cross-section through middle of leg.

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  Back of left lower extremity.

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  Gastrocnemius muscle

External links

• WebMD Nighttime Leg Cramps: http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/nighttime-leg-cramps-topic-overview
• -275120049 at GPnotebook
• LUC gast
• SUNY Labs 14:st-0405
• Anatomy at Dartmouth knee/surface/surface4
• 10th Ed.

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Kinesiology: Scientific Basis of Human Motion

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Nancy Hamilton, Ph.D. Associate Professor, University of Northern Iowa

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Kathryn Luttgens, Ph.D. Professor Emerita, Northeastern University