Name

Lumbricales (foot)

Pronunciation

(LUM-bri-culs) digitorum longus

Origin/Proximal Attachment

From tendons of Flexor

Insertion/Distal Attachment

Medial sides of proximal phalanges of toes 2 – 5 & extensor expansions & tendons of extensor digitorum longus on dorsum of foot

Action/Relevance

Flexes the proximal phalanges (at the MTP joint) Extends the middle & distal phalanges (at the IP joints)

Innervation

1st: Medial plantar nerve (L5, S1) 2nd-4th: Lateral plantar nerve (S1, 2)

Notes

The Lumbricales are four small muscles, accessory to the tendons of the Flexor digitorum longus and numbered from the medial side of the foot; they arise from these tendons, as far back as their angles of division, each springing from two tendons, except the first. The muscles end in tendons, which pass forward on the medial sides of the four lesser toes, and are inserted into the expansions of the tendons of the Extensor digitorum longus on the dorsal surfaces of the first phalanges.