Name

# Gastrocnemius

Pronunciation

(gas-trok-NE-me-us)

Origin/Proximal Attachment

Medial Head: just above medial femoral condyle

Lateral Head: just above lateral femoral condyle

Insertion/Distal Attachment

Calcaneus via calcaneal (‘Achilles’) tendon

Action/Relevance

Plantar-flexes ankle

Flexes knee

Stabilizes ankle & knee (when standing)

Innervation

Tibial nerve (S1, 2)

Notes

Connected to femur by two strong flat tendons

Medial head is larger

Muscle belly extends to mid calf with the belly of the medial head extending slightly lower than the lateral head.