Deep Muscles: Key Players in Leg Movement and Stability
Deep muscles, crucial for leg movement, connect to bones via tendons. These muscles, often smaller than knee flexors, play vital roles in stabilising joints and aiding movement.
Tensor fascia lata muscle, running from the hipbone to the tibia, stabilises the hip and knee. Gracilis muscle, from the pubic bone to the femur, aids hip inward movement and knee flexion. Abductor hallucis muscle, from the big toe to the heel, pulls the big toe away from the body. Peroneus longus muscle, starting at the fibula, flexes the ankle and supports the arch of the foot.
Popliteus muscle, at the back of the femur, rotates the knee and rotates the tibia inward. Gastrocnemius muscle, a large calf muscle, connects to the femur and extends to the heel via the Achilles tendon, aiding ankle flexion. Plantaris muscle, from the back of the femur to the heel, flexes the ankle and knee. These deep muscles are generally smaller than those that flex the knee.
Satorius muscle, running from the hipbone to the tibia, assists in hip movement and knee flexion. Other muscles and nerves, like the triceps surae, plantaris, tibial and fibular nerves, and hamstrings group, also play significant roles in leg movement, though not discussed in detail.
