Muscle
Extensor hallucis longus
Extends the big toe
High-yield
Extends the great toe; weakness of EHL is a classic sign of L5 radiculopathy. Deep fibular nerve.
Overview
A thin anterior leg muscle between tibialis anterior and EDL that extends the great toe and dorsiflexes the ankle; key for testing L5.
Reference facts
- Origin
Middle anterior surface of the fibula and interosseous membrane
- Insertion
Base of the distal phalanx of the great toe (hallux)
- Action
Extends the great toe and dorsiflexes the ankle
- Innervation
Deep fibular (peroneal) nerve (L5, S1)
- Blood supply
Anterior tibial artery