The is a powerful
Muscle in the back part of the lower
Leg (the calf). It runs from just below the
Knee to the
Heel , and is involved in standing and walking. It is closely connected to the
Gastrocnemius Muscle and some anatomists consider them to be a single muscle, the
Triceps Surae . Its name is derived from the ''
Solefish '' whose shape it resembles.
The soleus is located in the superficial
Posterior Compartment Of The Leg .
It originates from the posterior (back) surfaces of the head of the
Fibula and its upper third, as well as the middle third of the internal border of the
Tibia .
Its other end forms a common
Tendon with the gastrocnemius muscle; this tendon is known as the
Calcaneal Tendon or
Achilles Tendon and inserts onto the posterior surface of the
Calcaneus , or heel bone.
Superficial to the soleus (closer to the skin) is the gastrocnemius muscle.
The
Plantaris Muscle and a portion of its tendon run between the two muscles. Deep to it (farther from the skin) is the transverse intermuscular septum, which separates the superficial posterior compartment of the leg from the deep posterior compartment.
On the other side of the fascia are the
Tibialis Posterior Muscle , the
Flexor Digitorum Longus Muscle , and the
Flexor Hallucis Longus Muscle , along with the
Posterior Tibial Artery and
Posterior Tibial Vein and the
Tibial Nerve .
Since the anterior compartment of the leg is lateral to the tibia, the bulge of muscle medial to the tibia on the anterior side is actually the posterior compartment. The soleus is superficial midshaft of the tibia.
The action of the calf muscles, including the soleus, is to
Plantar Flex the foot (that is, they increase the angle between the foot and the leg).
They are powerful muscles and are vital in walking, running, and dancing.
The soleus specifically plays an important role in standing; if not for its constant pull, the body would fall forward.
Also, in upright posture, it is responsible for pumping ''venous'' blood back into the heart from the periphery, and is often called the ''peripheral heart'' or the ''sural (tricipital) pump''
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