The muscles of the foot play a crucial role in supporting the arches, controlling movement, and providing stability during various activities such as walking and running. These muscles can be categorized into intrinsic muscles (located within the foot) and extrinsic muscles (located in the leg but controlling foot movements). These muscles work together to provide the intricate movements and support necessary for proper functioning of the foot during weight-bearing activities and locomotion. Understanding the anatomy of these muscles is essential for healthcare professionals involved in foot and ankle care.

1. Dr / Ahmed Salah Ashour(Ph.D.)
Associate professor of human anatomy
Dr.Ahmedashour@gmu.ac.ae
USMLE Clinical Anatomy

2. MUSCLES OF
FOOT

3. The muscles of the foot play a crucial role in
supporting the arches, controlling movement, and
providing stability during various activities such as
walking and running. These muscles can be
categorized into intrinsic muscles (located within the
foot) and extrinsic muscles (located in the leg but
controlling foot movements).
These muscles work together to provide the intricate
movements and support necessary for proper
functioning of the foot during weight-bearing
activities and locomotion. Understanding the anatomy
of these muscles is essential for healthcare
professionals involved in foot and ankle care.

7. • FIIRST LAYER
Three muscles:
1. Abductor hallucis medially.
2. Abductor digiti minimi laterally.
3. Flexor digitorum brevis in the
middle.
Abductor hallucis
Abductor digiti minimi
Flexor digitorum brevis

8. • Second layer
Two tendons
1. Tendon of flexor hallucis longus.
2. Tendon of flexor digitorum longus.
Two muscles:
1. Flexor digitorum accessories
2. Lumbricals muscles
Tendon of flexor hallucis longus.
Tendon of flexor digitorum longus.
Flexor digitorum accessories
Lumbricals muscles

9. • Third layer
Three muscles:
1. Flexor hallucis brevis.
2. Adductor hallucis.
3. Flexor digiti minimi brevis.
Adductor hallucis.
Flexor digiti minimi brevis.
Flexor hallucis brevis.

10. • Fourth layer
Two tendons
1. Tendon of tibialis posterior
2. Tendon of peroneus longus
Two muscle
1. Dorsal interossei
2. Planter interossei
Tendon of tibialis posterior
Tendon of peroneus longus
Planter interossei
Dorsal interossei

11. Plantar fasciitis (heel spur syndrome)
is a common cause of heel pain, especially in joggers, and results from
inflammation of the plantar aponeurosis at its attachment point to the calcaneus.
Clinical Insight

12. Bunion (hallux valgus)
often occurs in women who wear shoes that are
too narrow.
In this deformity, the first metatarsal bone is
displaced medially (varus) and the proximal
phalanx is partially dislocated and displaced
laterally (valgus).
The lateral sesamoid bone also is displaced
laterally.
Clinical Insight

13. Clinical Insight
Dorsal interossei muscles test
One can test the dorsal interossei muscles
by asking the patient to spread the toes
against resistance. Likewise, one can
place a finger between the toes, ask the
patient to adduct the toes (done by the
plantar interossei muscles), and feel the
resistance (muscle strength) against one’s
finger.

14. Plantar interossei muscles test
One can test these muscles (PLANTAR
INTEROSSEOUS) by placing a finger
between the toes and asking the patient
to adduct the toes and feel the resistance
(muscle strength) against the finger.
Clinical Insight

15. Formative Quiz

16. Q1. Which muscle of the foot is primarily responsible for flexing the big toe
(hallux) and plays a crucial role in maintaining the arch of the foot?
a) Extensor digitorum longus
b) Flexor hallucis longus
c) Extensor hallucis brevis
d) Abductor digiti minimi

17. Q2. The muscle that provides support to the medial longitudinal arch of the foot and
is commonly strengthened through exercises to alleviate conditions like plantar
fasciitis is the:
a) Flexor hallucis brevis
b) Extensor digitorum brevis
c) Abductor hallucis
d) Flexor digitorum longus

18. Q3. Which muscle of the foot is essential for inverting the foot and is often affected
in conditions like tarsal tunnel syndrome?
a) Extensor digitorum brevis
b) Abductor digiti minimi
c) Tibialis anterior
d) Flexor digitorum brevis

19. Q4. The muscles in the foot play a crucial role in maintaining balance and
controlling movement. Which muscle is primarily responsible for eversion of the
foot?
a) Extensor hallucis longus
b) Tibialis posterior
c) Peroneus longus
d) Flexor digitorum longus

20. Q5. Which muscle of the foot is responsible for flexing and adducting the little toe
(5th digit) and is involved in various foot deformities such as hammertoe?
a) Flexor hallucis longus
b) Peroneus brevis
c) Extensor digitorum longus
d) Flexor digiti minimi brevis

21. Q1. b) Flexor hallucis longus
Q2. c) Abductor hallucis
Q3. c) Tibialis anterior
Q4. c) Peroneus longus
Q5. d) Flexor digiti minimi brevis

22. List of Texts and Recommended Readings
• Last's Anatomy, Regional and Applied. Chummy S. Sinnatamby. 12th edition 2011, ISBN:13 - 978 0 7020 3394 0
(Available in ClinicalKey: https://www.clinicalkey.com/#!/browse/book/3-s2.0- C2009060533X)
• Estomih Mtui, Gregory Gruener and Peter Dockery. Fitzgerald's Clinical Neuroanatomy and Neuroscience. 7th
edition; 2016, ISBN: 13 - 978-0-7020- 6727-3 (Available in ClinicalKey:
https://www.clinicalkey.com/#!/browse/book/3-s2.0- C20130134113
• Drake, Richard L. Gray's Anatomy for Students, Third Edition, Elsevier Saunders 2015. ISBN-13: 978-0702051319
(Available in ClinicalKey: https://www.clinicalkey.com/#!/browse/book/3- s2.0-C20110061707).
• Sobotta Atlas of Human Anatomy. F. Paulsen. Vol.1, 15th Edition; 2013, ISBN: 9780702052514 (Available in
ClinicalKey: https://www.clinicalkey.com/#!/content/book/3- s2.0-B9780702052514500067)
• Sobotta Atlas of Human Anatomy. F. Paulsen. Vol.2, 15th Edition; 2013, ISBN:13 - 978-0-7020-5252-1 (Available in
ClinicalKey: https://www.clinicalkey.com/#!/browse/book/3- s2.0-C20130046919)

23. Recap