The gastrocnemius joins the soleus to form theAchilles tendon, the large tendon that attaches to your heel bone.
You have two gastrocs, one in each lower leg.
Anatomy
The gastrocnemius muscle originates as two heads behind your knee.
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The lateral head on the outside part of your lower leg arises from the lateral condyle of your femur.
The muscle then courses down the back of your leg and joins the deeper soleus muscle.
They both form the Achilles tendon and attach on the posterior aspect of your calcaneus, or heel bone.
(Tricepsmeansthree-headed, andsuraerelates to the calf muscle.)
The gastrocnemius muscle is innervated by a nerve called the tibial nerve.
It arises from the largesciatic nerve.
The tibial portion is mainly served by the first and second sacral nerves from your lower back.
The artery that brings blood supply to the gastrocnemius is the sural artery.
This artery arises from the popliteal artery behind your knee.
Function
The main function of the gastrocnemius muscle is to plantarflex your ankle.
This means that as your gastroc contracts, your ankle and toes point down.
The muscle is considered one of the anti-gravity muscles.
It works along with thequadricepsandgluteus musclesto help raise our bodies up against the force of gravity.
When your foot is planted on the ground, the gastrocnemius also acts to stabilize your foot and ankle.
Since the gastrocnemius crosses the knee joint in the back, it is considered a two-joint muscle.
Therefore, it not only acts on the ankle but the knee as well.
Because it is a two-joint muscle, the gastrocnemius is prone to quite a bit of useand sometimes overuse.
This can lead to problems with the muscle.
Conditions
Quite a few conditions can affect the calf muscles of your lower legs.
They candiagnose your conditionand help get you on track to recovery.
Working with aphysical therapistmay be a good idea to help with various gastrocnemius injuries.
Once a short period of rest is complete, rehabilitation of your calf can begin.
It is also prone to various injuries and conditions.
Having a basic knowledge of the gastrocnemius muscle can help you fully recover after an injury.
That way, it’s possible for you to quickly get back to your normal activity and function.
Pregnant women are very likely to have night cramps, possibly because the additional weight strains the calf muscles.
Stay hydrated throughout exercise and the entire day to prevent cramps.
Together, these muscles make it possible to walk, run, jump, and extend your foot.
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