Soleus muscle
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Jones J, Knipe H, Kumar K, et al. Soleus muscle. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 29 May 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-6025
Permalink:
rID:
6025
Article created:
9 Apr 2009, Jeremy Jones ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Jeremy Jones had no recorded disclosures.
View Jeremy Jones's current disclosuresLast revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Henry Knipe had no recorded disclosures.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosuresRevisions:
19 times, by 8 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Soleus
The soleus muscle is one of the calf muscles (triceps surae) in the superficial posterior compartment of the leg which sits deep to gastrocnemius. It is much bigger than gastrocnemius and is the primary plantar flexor.
Summary
- origin:
- insertion: tendo calcaneus (Achilles tendon) into mid-posterior calcaneus
- action: plantar flexion
- arterial supply: sural arteries
- innervation: tibial nerve (sciatic nerve roots L5 to S2)
- antagonist: tibialis anterior
-
key relationships
- deep to the gastrocnemius
- the popliteal artery and tibial nerve exit the popliteal fossa by passing under the tendinous arch,
Variant anatomy
Accessory soleus muscle is an anatomical variant characterized by an additional distinct muscle encountered along a normal soleus muscle. Its prevalence varies from 0.7% to 5.5%, and it most commonly occurs as a unilateral finding 3.
Quiz questions
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References
- 1. Susan Standring. Gray's Anatomy. (2008) ISBN: 9780443066849 - Google Books
- 2. Keith L. Moore, Arthur F. Dalley, A. M. R. Agur. Clinically Oriented Anatomy. (2013) ISBN: 9781451119459 - Google Books
- 3. Sookur P, Naraghi A, Bleakney R, Jalan R, Chan O, White L. Accessory Muscles: Anatomy, Symptoms, and Radiologic Evaluation. Radiographics. 2008;28(2):481-99. doi:10.1148/rg.282075064 - Pubmed
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