- Soleus muscle
Infobox Muscle
Name = PAGENAME
Latin =
GraySubject = 129
GrayPage = 483
Caption = Muscles of lower extremity
Caption2 = The soleus muscle and surrounding structures, from "Gray's Anatomy ". This is a view of the back of the right leg; most of the gastrocnemius muscle has been removed.
Origin =fibula , medial border oftibia (soleal line )
Insertion = tendo calcaneus
Blood =sural arteries
Nerve =tibial nerve , specifically, nerve roots L5–S2
Action =plantarflexion
Antagonist =Tibialis anterior muscle
In humans and some other mammals, the soleus is a powerfulmuscle in the back part of the lowerleg (the calf). It runs from just below theknee to theheel , and is involved in standing and walking. It is closely connected to thegastrocnemius muscle and some anatomists consider them to be a single muscle, thetriceps surae . Its name is derived from the "solefish" whose shape it resembles.The soleus is located in the superficial
posterior compartment of the leg . Not all mammals have a soleus muscle; one familiar species that lacks the soleus is thedog .Origin and insertion
It originates from the posterior (back) surfaces of the head of the
fibula and its upper third, as well as the middle third of the internal border of thetibia .Its other end forms a common
tendon with the gastrocnemius muscle; this tendon is known as thecalcaneal tendon orAchilles tendon and inserts onto the posterior surface of thecalcaneus , or heel bone.Relations
Superficial to the soleus (closer to the skin) is the gastrocnemius muscle.
The
plantaris muscle and a portion of its tendon run between the two muscles. Deep to it (farther from the skin) is thetransverse intermuscular septum , which separates the superficial posterior compartment of the leg from the deep posterior compartment.On the other side of the fascia are the
tibialis posterior muscle , theflexor digitorum longus muscle , and theflexor hallucis longus muscle , along with theposterior tibial artery andposterior tibial vein and thetibial nerve .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 midshaft of the tibia.
Function
The action of the calf muscles, including the soleus, is
plantarflexion of the foot (that is, they increase the angle between the foot and the leg).They are powerful muscles and are vital in walking, running, and dancing.
The soleus specifically plays an important role in standing; if not for its constant pull, the body would fall forward.
Also, in upright posture, it is responsible for pumping "venous" blood back into the heart from the periphery, and is often called the "peripheral heart" or the "sural (tricipital) pump" [http://www.giot.it/articoli/2001/vol3-01/084art.pdf] .
=AdditionalReferences
*Gray, Henry. Pick, T. Pickering, & Howden, Robert (Eds.) (1995). "Gray's Anatomy" (15th ed.). New York: Barnes & Noble Books.
External links
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