Name
Pronunciation
(plan-TA-ris)
Origin/Proximal Attachment
Above the lateral head of gastrocnemius on femur
Insertion/Distal Attachment
Calcaneus, medial to calcaneal (‘Achilles’) tendon or blending with it
Action/Relevance
Very weak action & in some cases is not even present:
Plantar-flexes ankle
Flexes knee (when not weight bearing)
Stabilizes ankle & knee (when standing)
Innervation
Tibial nerve (S1, 2)
Notes
Small fusiform belly is approx 7-10 cm long
Long slender tendon crosses between gastrocnemius and soleus to run distally along the medial border of the Achilles tendon.