Gastrocnemius (Musculus gastrocnemius)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
The large superficial muscle of the calf, with medial and lateral heads arising from the femoral condyles above the knee. It merges with the soleus to form the Achilles tendon, and because it crosses the knee it also flexes it.
Origin & insertion
Origin: medial head from above the medial femoral condyle; lateral head from the lateral condylar surface. Insertion: Achilles tendon onto the calcaneal tuberosity.
Action
Ankle plantarflexion and knee flexion.
Innervation
Tibial nerve (S1–S2)
Clinical notes
Medial head rupture (tennis leg) is common in middle-aged athletes. Baker cysts typically arise between its medial tendon and the semimembranosus behind the knee.
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the Gastrocnemius?
The large superficial muscle of the calf, with medial and lateral heads arising from the femoral condyles above the knee. It merges with the soleus to form the Achilles tendon, and because it crosses the knee it also flexes it.
Why is the Gastrocnemius clinically important?
Medial head rupture (tennis leg) is common in middle-aged athletes. Baker cysts typically arise between its medial tendon and the semimembranosus behind the knee.
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