Muscle
Gastrocnemius
Superficial calf, crosses the knee
High-yield
Crosses both knee and ankle; fast propulsive plantarflexion. Tibial nerve. Forms the triceps surae with soleus.
Overview
The prominent two-headed superficial calf muscle that plantarflexes the ankle and flexes the knee, providing propulsion in jumping and sprinting.
Reference facts
- Origin
Lateral and medial condyles of the femur
- Insertion
Calcaneus via the calcaneal (Achilles) tendon
- Action
Plantarflexes the ankle and flexes the knee
- Innervation
Tibial nerve (S1, S2)
- Blood supply
Sural arteries (from the popliteal artery)