Quite a few people are familiar with muscles name and how the muscles make bigger but not familiar with where the muscles originate from and insert into.
This is the basic and important to know for practitioners and students (to pass the exam).
· Gastrocnemius (one of the calf muscles)
Origin
Posterior surface of medial and lateral condyle of femur
Insertion
Calcaneus via Achilles tendon
Action
Planter flexion of the foot and flexion of the knee
Nerve innervation
Tibial nerve S1-S2
- It is one of the superficial posterior compartment muscles
- It crosses the two joints which are ankle and knee
- It sits top on the soleus muscle
Pathologies that can be related to this muscle
- Achilles tendinitis
- Planter fasciitis
Soleus (the other calf muscle)
Origin
Posterior surface of head of fibula, adjacent medial part of the posterior tibia
Insertion
Calcaneus via Achilles tendon
Action
Planter flexion of the foot
Nerve innervation
Tibial nerve S1-S2
- Soleus is another superficial posterior compartment
- It does not cross two joints!
Pathologies that can be related to this muscle
- Achilles tendinitis
- Planter fasciitis
- Shin splint
- SIJ or lower back pain as referral pain goes to SIJ area (Trigger point 3)
