Gastrocnemius “Gastrocs”

Joe Muscolino

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The gastrocnemius ("gastrocs") of the superficial posterior compartment of the (lower) leg. The gastrocnemius has two heads: medial head and lateral head.

The Gastrocnemius is located in the Superficial Posterior Compartment of the (lower) leg. The muscles in the superficial posterior compartment are:

The Gastrocnemius has two heads: Lateral head and Medial head.

ATTACHMENTS:

  • Medial and lateral femoral condyles to the calcaneus via the Achilles/calcaneal tendon.

 

ACTIONS:

  • Plantarflexes the foot at the ankle joint.
  • Flexes the leg at the knee joint.
  • Inverts (Supinates) the foot at the subtalar joint.

 

NOTES:

  1. The two heads of the gastrocnemius are two of the three heads (along with the soleus) of the Triceps Surae Group.
  2. Inversion is the principal cardinal-plane (frontal-plane) component of the oblique-plane motion pattern of supination.