Flexor digitorum longus muscle
Flexor digitorum longus muscle | |
---|---|
Identifiers | |
Latin | musculus flexor digitorum longus |
TA98 | A04.7.02.052 |
TA2 | 2667 |
FMA | 51071 |
Anatomical terms of muscle] |
The flexor digitorum longus muscle is situated on the tibial side of the leg. At its origin it is thin and pointed, but it gradually increases in size as it descends. It serves to flex the second, third, fourth, and fifth toes.
Structure
The flexor digitorum longus muscle arises from the posterior surface of the body of the tibia, from immediately below the soleal line to within 7 or 8 cm of its lower extremity, medial to the tibial origin of the tibialis posterior muscle. It also arises from the fascia covering the tibialis posterior muscle.
The fibers end in a tendon, which runs nearly the whole length of the posterior surface of the muscle. This tendon passes behind the medial malleolus, in a groove, common to it and the tibialis posterior, but separated from the latter by a fibrous septum, each tendon being contained in a special compartment lined by a separate mucous sheath. The tendon of the tibialis posterior and the tendon of the flexor digitorum longus cross each other, in a spot above the medial malleolus, the crural tendinous chiasm.[1][2][3] It passes through the tarsal tunnel.[4]
It passes obliquely forward and lateralward, superficial to the
It then expands and is joined by the
Variation
Flexor accessorius longus digitorum, not infrequent, origin from fibula, or tibia, or the deep fascia and ending in a tendon which, after passing beneath the laciniate ligament, joins the tendon of the long flexor or the quadratus plantæ.
Function
Similar to the flexor hallucis longus and tibialis posterior muscles, the flexor digitorum longus muscle functions to plantar flex and invert the foot. The flexor digitorum longus muscle is responsible for the movement and curling of the second, third, fourth and fifth toes. This muscle makes it possible for the toes to grip the surface of floors, which is important when it comes to maintaining postural balance on surfaces that are rough or uneven. The other deep muscles are the
Clinical significance
After passing through the
References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 485 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
- ^ a b Walter Thiel (1997) Photographic atlas of practical anatomy - Volume 1, Part 1 - p.348
- ^ a b Johannes Sobotta, Reinhard Putz, Reinhard Pabst (1997) Sobotta Atlas of Human Anatomy: Thorax, abdomen, pelvis, lower limb, p.331
- ^ a b Jan Langman, Martinus Willem Woerdeman (1982) Atlas of medical anatomy p.323
- ISBN 978-0-323-09138-1
- ^ Knipe, Henry. "Knot of Henry | Radiology Reference Article | Radiopaedia.org". Radiopaedia. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
External links
- Anatomy photo:15:st-0403 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center
- PTCentral