Flexor hallucis longus
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Jones J, Tigges S, Knipe H, et al. Flexor hallucis longus. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 20 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-6029
rID:
6029
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Jeremy Jones had no recorded disclosures.
View Jeremy Jones's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Stefan Tigges had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Stefan Tigges's current disclosures
Revisions:
11 times, by
5 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Flexor hallucis longus tendon
- Flexor hallucis longus (FHL)
- Flexor hallucis longus muscles
The flexor hallucis longus (FHL) muscle is one of the muscles of the posterior deep compartment of the leg and, along with the flexor hallucis brevis muscle, is involved in the flexion of the hallux (great or first toe). Its tendon passes below the sustentaculum tali and between the medial and lateral tubercles of the talus 1.
Summary
origin: distal two-thirds of the fibula
insertion: base of distal phalanx of the hallux
action: flexes all joints of the big toe and assists in plantarflexion
arterial supply: peroneal artery (peroneal branch of the posterior tibial artery)
innervation: tibial nerve, from sciatic nerve (roots S1 and S2)
antagonist: extensor hallucis longus
Variant anatomy
the FHL tendon sheath often (~25%) communicates with the ankle joint 2
References
- 1. Susan Standring. Gray's Anatomy. (2008) ISBN: 9780443066849 - Google Books
- 2. Ogul H, Cankaya B, Kantarci M. The Distribution in Joint Recesses and Adjacent Synovial Compartments of Loose Bodies Determined on MR and CT Arthrographies of Ankle Joint. Br J Radiol. 2022;95(1132):20201239. doi:10.1259/bjr.20201239 - Pubmed
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Articles:
- Proximal intersection syndrome
- Deep posterior compartment of the leg
- Hallux sesamoid
- Medial plantar nerve entrapment
- Tenosynovitis
- Trigger toe
- Kager triangle
- Sciatic nerve motor distribution
- Sustentaculum tali
- Posterior talofibular ligament
- Fibular artery
- Peroneocalcaneus internus muscle
- Master knot of Henry intersection syndrome
- Heel fat pad syndrome
- Tibiocalcaneus internus muscle
- Phalanges of the feet
- Flexor digitorum longus muscle
- Posterior ankle impingement syndrome
- Muscles of the lower limb
- Metatarsal
Cases:
- Posterior ankle laceration (ultrasound)
- Achilles tendon tear - preoperative and postoperative ultrasound
- Plantar fibroma
- First metatarsophalangeal joint anatomy
- Foreign bodies in the foot
- Foot muscle insertions (Gray's anatomy illustration)
- Tenosynovitis of flexor hallucis longus
- Tenosynovitis of flexor hallucis longus
- Tenosynovitis of the flexor hallucis longus
Related articles: Anatomy: Lower limb
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- joints of the lower limb
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hip joint
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- muscles
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accessory muscles of the ankle
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- accessory flexor digitorum longus muscle
- accessory soleus muscle
- peroneocalcaneus internus muscle
- tibiocalcaneus internus muscle
- extensor hallucis capsularis tendon
- anterior fibulocalcaneus muscle
- accessory extensor digiti secundus muscle
- tibioastragalus anticus of Gruber muscle
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- innervation of the lower limb
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