Gastrocnemius

Anatomy pictures

Referred pain pattern

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

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:

• Epicranial fascia
• Rectus capitis posterior major and minor
• Sacrolumbar fascia/erector spinae
• Sacrotuberous ligament
• Hamstrings
  • Biceps femoris
  • Semitendinosus
  • Semimembranosus
• Gastrocnemius and soleus
• Plantar fascia

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