This diagram displays a superior view of the muscles whose bodies travel distally down the leg and assist in ambulation. Each muscle is fanned outwards and grouped in a way to show what functions and movements they contribute. Some muscles have been slightly exaggerated to make more visible.

NOTE: Soleus, Gastrocnemius/Achilles, Popliteus, Plantaris muscles are portrayed with their range of movement for flexion.

Extensor Digitorum Longus
Origin: Lateral tibial condyle, proximal 75% of anterior fibular shaft, interosseous membrane
Insertion: dorsal surfaces of distal phalanges 2-5
Action: extends digits 2-5 at metatarsophalangeal and interphalangeal joints; dorsiflexes at at the subtalar joint

Fibularis Tertius
Origin: distal anterior fibula, tibiofibular ligament and the intermuscular septum, beneath f. brevis
Insertion: dorsal metatarsal 5
Action: dorsiflexes and everts at at the subtalar joint

Fibularis Brevis
Origin: lateral surface of distal 66% of fibula, adjacent intermusclar septum and beneath the f. longus
Insertion: lateral metatarsal 5 tuberosity
Action: plantar flexes and everts at at the subtalar joint

Fibularis Longus
Origin: interosseous membrane, posterior tibia, superior 60% of lateral fibula
Insertion: plantar metatarsal base 1
Action: plantar flexes and everts at at the subtalar joint; supports transverse arch of foot

Flexor Hallucis Longus
Origin: distal 66% of posterior fibula and interosseous membrane
Insertion: plantar distal phalange 1
Action: flexes digits 1 at distal interphalangeal joint; inverts and plantar flexes at at the subtalar joints

Soleus
Origin: posterior surface of fibular head, upper 66% of shaft and adjacent medial area of posterior tibia, beneath the gastroncemius
Insertion: posterior calcaneal tuberosity via achilles tendon
Action: plantar flexes at at the subtalar joint

Flexor Digitorum Longus
Origin: posterior tibial shaft
Insertion: plantar surfaces of distal phalanges 2-5
Action: flexes digits 2-5 at distal interphalangeal joints; inverts and plantar flexes at at the subtalar joint

Tibialis Posterior
Origin: interosseous membrane, posterior tibia, superior 60% of medial fibula
Insertion: plantar surfaces of navicular tuberosity, cuneiforms, cuboid and metatarsal base 2-4
Action: plantar flexes, inverts and adducts at at the subtalar joint

Extensor Hallucis Longus
Origin: anterior fibula, adjacent interosseous membrane,
beneath t. anterior
Insertion: dorsal distal phalange 1
Action: extends digit 1 at metatarsophalangeal and interphalangeal joints; inverts and dorsiflexes at at the subtalar joint

Tibialis Anterior
Origin: lateral tibial condyle and its proximal lateral shaft
Insertion: medial surfaces of medial cuneiform and metatarsal base 1
Action: dorsiflexes and inverts at at the subtalar joint

Popliteus
Origin: lateral surface of lateral femoral condyle
Insertion: posterior surface of proximal tibial shaft
Action: unlocks, flexes and medially rotates (assist) at knee joint

Gastrocnemius
Origin: two medial and lateral heads from their posterior femoral condyles
Insertion: posterior calcaneal tuberosity via achilles tendon
Action: plantar flexes at at the subtalar joint; flexes at knee joint

Achilles Tendon
Origin: distal gastrocnemius heads
Insertion: posterior calcaneal tuberosity
Action: plantar flexes at at the subtalar joint

Plantaris
Origin: superior to lateral gastrocnemial head on lower supracondylar femoral ridge
Insertion: posterior calcaneal tuberosity, alongside
the achilles tendon
Action: flexes at knee joint; plantar flexes (assist) at at the subtalar joint

Extensor Digitorum Longus
Origin: Lateral tibial condyle, proximal 75% of anterior fibular shaft, interosseous membrane
Insertion: dorsal surfaces of distal phalanges 2-5
Action: extends digits 2-5 at metatarsophalangeal and interphalangeal joints; dorsiflexes at at the subtalar joint

Fibularis Tertius
Origin: distal anterior fibula, tibiofibular ligament and the intermuscular septum, beneath f. brevis
Insertion: dorsal metatarsal 5
Action: dorsiflexes and everts at at the subtalar joint

Fibularis Brevis
Origin: lateral surface of distal 66% of fibula, adjacent intermusclar septum and beneath the f. longus
Insertion: lateral metatarsal 5 tuberosity
Action: plantar flexes and everts at at the subtalar joint

Fibularis Longus
Origin: interosseous membrane, posterior tibia, superior 60% of lateral fibula
Insertion: plantar metatarsal base 1
Action: plantar flexes and everts at at the subtalar joint; supports transverse arch of foot

Flexor Hallucis Longus
Origin: distal 66% of posterior fibula and interosseous membrane
Insertion: plantar distal phalange 1
Action: flexes digits 1 at distal interphalangeal joint; inverts and plantar flexes at at the subtalar joints

Soleus
Origin: posterior surface of fibular head, upper 66% of shaft and adjacent medial area of posterior tibia, beneath the gastroncemius
Insertion: posterior calcaneal tuberosity via achilles tendon
Action: plantar flexes at at the subtalar joint

Flexor Digitorum Longus
Origin: posterior tibial shaft
Insertion: plantar surfaces of distal phalanges 2-5
Action: flexes digits 2-5 at distal interphalangeal joints; inverts and plantar flexes at at the subtalar joint

Tibialis Posterior
Origin: interosseous membrane, posterior tibia, superior 60% of medial fibula
Insertion: plantar surfaces of navicular tuberosity, cuneiforms, cuboid and metatarsal base 2-4
Action: plantar flexes, inverts and adducts at at the subtalar joint

Extensor Hallucis Longus
Origin: anterior fibula, adjacent interosseous membrane,
beneath t. anterior
Insertion: dorsal distal phalange 1
Action: extends digit 1 at metatarsophalangeal and interphalangeal joints; inverts and dorsiflexes at at the subtalar joint

Tibialis Anterior
Origin: lateral tibial condyle and its proximal lateral shaft
Insertion: medial surfaces of medial cuneiform and metatarsal base 1
Action: dorsiflexes and inverts at at the subtalar joint

Popliteus
Origin: lateral surface of lateral femoral condyle
Insertion: posterior surface of proximal tibial shaft
Action: unlocks, flexes and medially rotates (assist) at knee joint

Gastrocnemius
Origin: two medial and lateral heads from their posterior femoral condyles
Insertion: posterior calcaneal tuberosity via achilles tendon
Action: plantar flexes at at the subtalar joint; flexes at knee joint

Achilles Tendon
Origin: distal gastrocnemius heads
Insertion: posterior calcaneal tuberosity
Action: plantar flexes at at the subtalar joint

Plantaris
Origin: superior to lateral gastrocnemial head on lower supracondylar femoral ridge
Insertion: posterior calcaneal tuberosity, alongside
the achilles tendon
Action: flexes at knee joint; plantar flexes (assist) at at the subtalar joint