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Soleus
Other Terms:
Triceps surae,
Musculus soleus,
Muscle soléaire
Muscle parts
None
Latin name
Musculus triceps surae – Musculus soleus
Latin muscle parts
None
Group
Crural muscle – posterior compartment – superficial group
Etymology
The English name for this muscles is the sandal muscle. The name has an interesting history. In 1649, the Italian anatomist Veslingius stated that this muscle resembled the flat sole fish. The sole fish derived its name from the Latin solea meaning “sandal or flat of the foot,” which treads on the solium or “ground.” The sole fish also likes to wiggle into the soft ground at the bottom of the sea.
Origin
Posterior surface of the fibular head and the proximal end of the fibular shaft, the soleal line and the medial border of the middle of the tibia.
Insertion
Posterior surface of the calcaneus via the shared tendo calcaneus
Action
Plantar flexion of the ankle joint; plays an important postural role in stabilizing the leg over the ankle in standing.
Nerve supply
Tibial nerve (S1 and S2)
Blood supply
From proximal to distal, the belly of the muscle is supplied by the sural branches of the popliteal artery, the posterior tibial artery, and the peroneal artery. The tendon receives a blood supply from the anterior and posterior, medial and lateral malleolar arteries, the calcanean branches of the posterior tibial artery, and the lateral plantar artery.
Latin
Musculus soleus
French
Muscle soléaire