Muscles of the lower extremity

Superficial fascia and fascia lata

The popliteus (french : muscle poplité) - named from its position on the floor of the ham (= poples) - is a triangular sheet.

The pectineus - named from pecten (=pubes) on account of its origin from the bone - is a quadrilateral sheet.

The tibialis posterior (french : muscle tibial postérieur) - named from its position in the back part of the leg and its origin from the tibia - is a thick fusiform sheet.

The sartorius- named somewhat erroneously from sartor, a tailor, because it has been supposed to be the muscle by which the cross-legged sitting posture is produced- is a long, ribbon- shaped muscle slightly fusiform at the two ends.

The flexor digitorum longus (french : muscle long fléchisseur commun des orteils) - named from its being the longer of the two flexors of the toes - is a fusiform sheet.

The psoas parvus - a small muscle, only occasionally present, named from its positic in the loins and its small size - is fusiform and somewhat flattened.

The flexor hallucis longus muscle (french : muscle long fléchisseur propre du gros orteil) - named from its action upon the great toe (hallux) and its length - is a strong fusiform sheet.

The psoas, or psoas magnus (french: muscle psoas ou grand psoas) - named from the Greek word meaning the muscles of the loins - is thick, rounded, and fusiform.

The gastrocnemius - named from Greek terms meaning the belly, and the calf, because it forms the enlargement of that part of the leg - is double-headed, each head consisting of a fusiform muscle, the lower part of which blends with its fellow so as to form a common tendon of insertion. It forms the femoral origin of the great triceps feurae muscle.

The iliacus - named from its attachment to the ihum - is a thick, triangula sheet.

The soleus (french : muscle soléaire) - named from solea, the Latin for a sole-fish, because of the resemblance of the muscle to this flat fish - is a thick, fusiform sheet.

This website puts documents at your disposal only and solely for information purposes. They can not in any way replace the consultation of a physician or the care provided by a qualified practitioner and should therefore never be interpreted as being able to do so.