Name

# Plantaris

Pronunciation

(plan-TA-ris)

Origin/Proximal Attachment

Above the lateral head of gastrocnemius on femur

Insertion/Distal Attachment

Calcaneus, medial to calcaneal (‘Achilles’) tendon or blending with it

Action/Relevance

Very weak action & in some cases is not even present:

Plantar-flexes ankle

Flexes knee (when not weight bearing)

Stabilizes ankle & knee (when standing)

Innervation

Tibial nerve (S1, 2)

Notes

Small fusiform belly is approx 7-10 cm long

Long slender tendon crosses between gastrocnemius and soleus to run distally along the medial border of the Achilles tendon.