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Flexor hallucis longus
Other Terms:
Musculus flexor hallucis longus,
Muscle long fléchisseur de l'hallux
Muscle parts
None
Latin name
Musculus flexor hallucis longus
Latin muscle parts
None
Group
Crural muscle – posterior compartment – deep group
Etymology
In English this muscle’s name is the long muscle that bends the big toe. The word flexor comes from the Latin flectere meaning “to bend.”The term hallucis is from the Latin hallux, which originally arose from the Greek halmos meaning “to leap or spring.” The big toe was so-named because of its functional role in leaping.Longus is the Latin term meaning “long.” This is being used as a comparative reference to a shorter muscle that does the same thing.
Origin
Posterior surface of the distal two-thirds of the fibula, the adjacent interosseous membrane, and the fascia of the tibialis posterior.
Insertion
Plantar surface of the base of terminal phalanx of the great toe.
Action
Flexion of first toe; weak plantar flexion of the ankle joint; assist in maintaining the longitudinal arches of the foot.
Nerve supply
Tibial nerve (L5, S1, and S2)
Blood supply
From proximal to distal, the muscle is supplied by the posterior tibial artery, the peroneal artery, the anterior medial malleolar artery, and the posterior medial malleolar artery. The tendon receives blood from the medial tarsal arteries, the medial plantar artery, and the first plantar metatarsal artery.
Latin
Musculus flexor hallucis longus
French
Muscle long fléchisseur de l'hallux