Musculus gastrocnemius

An anatomical

illustration from Sobotta"s Human Anatomy 1908

Gastrocnemius

muscle • Gastrocnemius muscle - Gray's anatomy illustration - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Illustrations G, Gastrocnemius muscle - Gray's anatomy illustration. Case study, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 06 Aug 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-36328 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Plantaris

muscle • Superficial lower limb muscles (illustration) - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Illustrations G, Superficial lower limb muscles (illustration). Case study, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 27 Jul 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-36321 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Tibialis

anterior muscle • Leg muscles: surface anatomy - Gray's anatomy illustration - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Illustrations G, Leg muscles: surface anatomy - Gray's anatomy illustration. Case study, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 17 Jul 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-36322 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Gastrocnemius

muscle • Lower limb surface anatomy: posterior aspect - Gray's anatomy illustration - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Illustrations G, Lower limb surface anatomy: posterior aspect - Gray's anatomy illustration. Case study, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 06 Aug 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-36329 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Tibialis

posterior muscle • Lower leg axial section - Gray's anatomy illustration - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Illustrations G, Lower leg axial section - Gray's anatomy illustration. Case study, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 05 Jan 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-36325 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Gastrocnemius

muscle • Gastrocnemius vein thrombosis - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Patel M, Gastrocnemius vein thrombosis. Case study, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 06 Aug 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-96673 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Gastrocnemius

muscle • Proximal tendon tear of medial head of gastrocnemius - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Patel M, Proximal tendon tear of medial head of gastrocnemius. Case study, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 06 Aug 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-61865 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Cysticercosis

• Cysticercosis of gastrocnemius muscle - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Patel M, Cysticercosis of gastrocnemius muscle. Case study, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 16 Nov 2022) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-17517 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Cross-section

through middle of leg.

Wikipedia • Public domain

Radiopaedia • CC-by-nc-sa 3.0 • de

The gastrocnemius muscle is one of the calf muscles (triceps surae) in the superficial posterior compartment of the leg which sits superficial to the much larger soleus muscle. It gives the calf its distinctive two-headed appearance and is a primary plantar flexor.

Its medial border of the lateral head and its lateral border of the medial head forms the inferolateral and inferomedial borders of the popliteal fossa respectively.

Summary

origin:
- medial head: posterior non-articular surface of the medial femoral condyle
- lateral head: posterior non-articular surface of the lateral femoral condyle
insertion: calcaneal (Achilles) tendon into mid-posterior calcaneus
action: plantar flexes the foot and flexes the knee
arterial supply: sural arteries
innervation: tibial nerve (sciatic nerve roots S1 and S2)
antagonist: tibialis anterior
key relationships
- superficial to soleus
- forms the inferior borders of the popliteal fossa