My watch list

Triceps surae

It has been suggested that Calf muscle be merged into this article or section. (Discuss)

Triceps surae

Muscles of lower extremity
Latin	musculus triceps surae
Origin:
Insertion:	achilles tendon, calcaneus
Artery:	posterior tibial artery
Nerve:	tibial nerve
Action:
Dorlands/Elsevier	m_22/12551309

The triceps surae is a term given by some anatomists to the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles together as they both insert into the calcaneus, the bone of the heel of the human foot, and form the major part of the muscle of the back part of the lower leg (the calf; otherwise known in Latin as the sura, see also the sural nerve).

Additional recommended knowledge

Daily Visual Balance Check

What is the Correct Way to Check Repeatability in Balances?

How to ensure accurate weighing results every day?

Considering these 2 muscles as one, the triceps surae inserts into the Achilles' tendon (tendo calcanei) and has 3 heads deriving from the 2 major masses of muscle.

The superficial portion (the gastrocnemius) gives off 2 heads attaching to the base of the femur directly above the knee.

The deep (profundis) mass of muscle (the soleus) forms the remaining head which attaches to the superior posterior area of the tibia.

The triceps surae is innervated by the tibial nerve, specifically, nerve roots L5–S2.

v • d • e List of muscles of lower limbs
ILIAC REGION/ILIOPSOAS	psoas major/psoas minor - iliacus
BUTTOCKS	gluteals: (maximus, medius, minimus) - tensor fasciae latae lateral rotator group: piriformis - obturator externus/obturator internus - inferior gemellus/superior gemellus - quadratus femoris
THIGH	anterior compartment: sartorius - quadriceps (rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, vastus medialis) - articularis genu posterior compartment/hamstring: biceps femoris - semitendinosus, semimembranosus medial compartment: gracilis - pectineus - adductor (brevis, longus, magnus)
LEG	anterior compartment: tibialis anterior - extensor hallucis longus - extensor digitorum longus - fibularis tertius posterior compartment: superficial - calf/triceps surae (gastrocnemius, soleus) - plantaris - deep - popliteus - tarsal tunnel (flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus, tibialis posterior) lateral compartment: fibularis muscles (longus, brevis)
FOOT	dorsal - extensor digitorum brevis - extensor hallucis brevis plantar - 1st layer (abductor hallucis, flexor digitorum brevis, abductor digiti minimi) - 2nd layer (quadratus plantae, lumbrical muscle) - 3rd layer (flexor hallucis brevis, adductor hallucis - flexor digiti minimi brevis) - 4th layer (dorsal interossei, plantar interossei)