Plantaris (Musculus plantaris)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
A tiny vestigial muscle surgeons hunt for: a short belly with a long tendon descending between soleus and gastrocnemius to the Achilles; absent in 7–20% of people.
Origin & insertion
Lateral supracondylar line of the femur and the oblique popliteal ligament.
Action
Minimal function — weak plantarflexion; its surgical value exceeds its motor role.
Innervation
Tibial nerve (S1–S2).
Clinical notes
Its tear in tennis leg gives a calf "pop" mistaken for Achilles rupture; its tendon is the first-choice paediatric hand-tendon graft.
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the Plantaris?
A tiny vestigial muscle surgeons hunt for: a short belly with a long tendon descending between soleus and gastrocnemius to the Achilles; absent in 7–20% of people.
Why is the Plantaris clinically important?
Its tear in tennis leg gives a calf "pop" mistaken for Achilles rupture; its tendon is the first-choice paediatric hand-tendon graft.
Source & license
BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science licensed under CC Attribution 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). license details