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