Name
Pronunciation
(gas-trok-NE-me-us)
Origin/Proximal Attachment
Medial Head: just above medial femoral condyle
Lateral Head: just above lateral femoral condyle
Insertion/Distal Attachment
Calcaneus via calcaneal (‘Achilles’) tendon
Action/Relevance
Plantar-flexes ankle
Flexes knee
Stabilizes ankle & knee (when standing)
Innervation
Tibial nerve (S1, 2)
Notes
Connected to femur by two strong flat tendons
Medial head is larger
Muscle belly extends to mid calf with the belly of the medial head extending slightly lower than the lateral head.