Muscle
Flexor hallucis longus
Deep leg flexor carrying force to the great toe
High-yield
The long flexor reaches the great toe's end joint, beyond the insertion of flexor hallucis brevis. It also assists ankle plantarflexion and support of the medial arch.
Overview
Flexor hallucis longus starts behind the fibula and follows grooves near the talus and calcaneus into the sole. Its tendon reaches the great toe's distal phalanx, helping the toe press against the ground during push-off.
Reference facts
- Origin
- Lower posterior fibular shaft and neighboring interosseous membrane
- Insertion
- Plantar base of the great toe's distal phalanx
- Action
- Flexes the great toe, assists plantarflexion and contributes to medial arch support
- Innervation
- Muscular branches of the tibial nerve
- Blood supply
- Mainly fibular arterial branches, with posterior tibial contribution
Clinical correlation
Irritation of the tendon sheath can cause pain behind the inner ankle, sometimes with catching during great-toe movement. Dancers can be affected, but posterior ankle impingement and other conditions can produce overlapping symptoms.
Frequently asked questions
What does the flexor hallucis longus do?
The flexor hallucis longus flexes the great toe, assists plantarflexion and contributes to medial arch support.
What nerve innervates the flexor hallucis longus?
The flexor hallucis longus is innervated by the muscular branches of the tibial nerve.
Where does the flexor hallucis longus attach?
The flexor hallucis longus originates from the lower posterior fibular shaft and neighboring interosseous membrane and inserts on the plantar base of the great toe's distal phalanx.
What is the blood supply of the flexor hallucis longus?
Mainly fibular arterial branches, with posterior tibial contribution.