Remember last week where I introduced 'Tom, Dick, & Harry' ? A group of three muscles that live deep in "deep posterior compartment of the lower leg"? Deep meaning closest to the bone & posterior meaning on the back of the lower leg.
They work together to perform the same two muscle actions of the ankle :)
Today we'll talk about Flexor Digitorum Longus (aka 'Dick' of Tom, Dick & Harry)
Flexor: probably performs the action of 'flexion'
Digitorum: refers to our digits (aka fingers and toes!)
Longus: whenever a muscle is named Longus there is usually a similar, shorter
version of this muscle nearby :)
Flexor Digitorum Longus Muscle Attachment Points:
ORIGIN: middle 1/3 of the posterior tibia (aka "middle posterior surface" )
INSERTION: distal phalanges of toes 2-5
Flexor Digitorum Longus Muscle ACTIONS:
same two actions as Tom & Harry:
1- 'weak plantar flexion of the foot at the ankle joint
2 - inversion of the foot at the ankle joint:
*and because this muscles tendons extend all the way to the tips of toes 2-5 :
3- flexes toes 2-5 (all toes except big toe - #1)
And that's Dick!
Next week we'll meet Harry!
