Pictured above is the gastrocnemius muscle. It pulls your heel toward your thigh and also flexes your knee. It attaches to the back of your thigh bone very near your knee and to the upper portion of the outside of your Achilles tendon. Your soleus muscle also attaches to the Achilles tendon, but on the inside (the other side that the gastroc attaches to). Your soleus muscle is VERY likely to need LOTS of stretching and SMR attention. Occasionally, the gastroc will need attention too.
The muscles are layered, showing how some of the muscles are covered by the others. All of the muscles are see-through so that you can appreciate the location and size of each muscle relative to the others.
Click here for a list of all the muscles.
Muscles that cross or attach to the hip or thigh bone (femur) and attach below the knee joint and DO NOT attach to the knee cap (patella)
Lower Leg
The following muscles attach across or below the knee.
Click the appropriate link for your interest.
Muscles that cross the knee
Muscles that pass or attach between the knee & ankle
- Gastrocnemius
- Popliteus
- Plantaris
- Soleus
- Peroneus Longus
- Peroneus Brevis
- Flexor Digitorum Longus
- Flexor Hallucis Longus
- Posterior Tibialis
- Anterior Tibialis
- Extensor Digitorum Longus
- Extensor Hallucis Longus
Good luck working out those tight knots.
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