Flexor digitorum longus
Flexor Digitorum Longus
The Flexor Digitorum Longus (pronounced: flex-or dij-i-tor-um long-us) is a muscle located in the posterior compartment of the leg that helps in the flexion of the toes.
Etymology
The term 'Flexor Digitorum Longus' is derived from Latin, where 'Flexor' means 'bender', 'Digitorum' refers to 'of the digits', and 'Longus' signifies 'long'. Thus, the term essentially refers to the long muscle that bends the digits.
Anatomy
The Flexor Digitorum Longus originates from the upper three-quarters of the posterior surface of the body of the tibia, a bone in the lower leg. It is situated between the Tibia and the Fibula, deep to the Soleus and Gastrocnemius.
The muscle runs down the leg and passes behind the medial malleolus, a bony prominence on the inner side of the ankle. It then divides into four tendons that attach to the base of the distal phalanges (the bone segments of the toes) of the four lesser toes.
Function
The primary function of the Flexor Digitorum Longus is to flex the second to fifth toes. It also helps in plantar flexion of the foot at the ankle and supports the arches of the foot.
Related Terms
- Flexor Digitorum Brevis: A muscle in the foot that flexes the second to fifth toes.
- Flexor Digitorum Profundus: A muscle in the forearm that flexes the fingers.
- Flexor Digitorum Superficialis: A muscle in the forearm that flexes the fingers.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Flexor digitorum longus
- Wikipedia's article - Flexor digitorum longus
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