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Gastrocnemius

Contents

Anatomy pictures

Gastrocnemius posterior view
Gastrocnemius - lateral view
Gastrocnemius - medial view

Referred pain pattern

Gastrocnemius - pain pattern
Gastrocnemius -
pain pattern - caudal

Muscle type

  • Postural
    • Shortens when overactivated

Symptoms

  • Nocturnal calf cramps
  • Calf cramps
  • Intermittent claudication
  • Pain in posterior part of knee when walking uphill

Muscular attachments

Origin of gastrocnemius

Insertion of gastrocnemius

Videos

Short version

 

Detailed version

Notes of clinical importance

  • During tests it has been shown that when a subject stand on a wide platform that is abruptly moved backward, the posterior muscles - paraspinal, hamstrings, and gastrocnemius are recruited to bring the body back to the erect position by rotating at the ankles
    • This demonstrates the body's coping mechanism with correcting imbalance by using synergistic muscles

Myofascial lines

Dorsal line:

Anatomy

Position

  • Superficial

Origin

  • Medial femoral condyle
  • Distal posteromedial femur
  • Lateral femoral condyle
  • Distal posterolateral femur

Insertion

  • Posterior aspect of calcaneus

Main function

  • Ankle
    • Plantarflexion
  • Knee
    • Flexion

Secondary function

  • Foot
    • Inversion

Nerve innervation

  • Segmental
    • S1-S2
  • Peripheral
    • Nervus tibialis

Arterial supply

  • Arteria poplitea