plantaris

plantar

 [plan´ter]

pertaining to the sole of the foot.

plan·tar

(plan'tar), [TA] Avoid the incorrect form planter or planter's (wart).

Relating to the sole of the foot.

Synonym(s): plantaris [TA]

[L. plantaris]

plantaris

/plan·ta·ris/ (plan-ta´ris) [L.] plantar.

plantaris

[planter′is, plantä′ris]

Etymology: L, planta

one of three superficial muscles at the back of the leg, between the soleus and the gastrocnemius. The plantaris is a small muscle that arises from the distal part of the linea aspera of the femur and from the oblique popliteal ligament of the knee joint. It has a small fusiform belly, ending in a long, slender tendon that inserts into the calcaneus. The plantaris is innervated by a branch of the tibial nerve containing fibers from the fourth and the fifth lumbar and the first sacral nerves. It plantar-flexes the foot and the leg. Compare gastrocnemius, soleus.

plantaris

small muscle within superficial compartment of posterior aspect of lower leg (see Table 1 and Table 2)

• origin popliteal surface of femur, deep to lateral head of gastrocnemius

• insertion via a long, slender tendon, into Achilles tendon

• nerve supply tibial nerve

• action facilitates toe off; its tendon may serve as donor tissue in surgical repair of ruptured Achilles tendon

Table 1: Muscles acting on the joints of the lower limb and foot

Joint	Muscle	Muscle origin	Muscle insertion
Hip only	Adductor longus Adductor brevis Adductor magnus Psoas major Iliacus Pectineus Gluteus minimus Gluteus medius Gluteus maximus (deep quarter) Piriformis Obturator externus Obturator internus Gemelli	Body of pubis Body and inferior ramus of pubis Inferior ramus of pubis Lumbar vertebrae Iliac fossa Body and superior ramus of pubis Ileum Ileum Sacrum Sacrum Obturator membrane Internal surfaces of ileum, pubis Ischium, sides of sciatic notch	Linea aspera of posterior femur Linea aspera of posterior femur Lower medial femur, adductor tubercle Lesser trochanter Femur, inferior to lesser trochanter Posterior area of lesser trochanter Anterior area greater trochanter Lateral area greater trochanter Gluteal tuberosity of femur Greater trochanter Trochanteric fossa Medial area greater trochanter Medial area greater trochanter
Hip and knee	Biceps femoris (long head) Semimembranosus Semitendinosus Gracilis Sartorius Tensor fasciae lata Rectus femoris Gluteus maximus (superior three-quarters)	Ischial tuberosity Ischial tuberosity Ischial tuberosity Body and inferior ramus of pubis Anterior superior iliac spine Anterior one-quarter of iliac crest Anterior ileum Posterior area of ileum and sacrum	Head of fibula Posterior-area medial tibial condyle Upper one-quarter medial tibia Upper one-quarter medial tibia Upper one-quarter medial tibia Lateral condyle tibia via iliotibial tract Patella, via quadriceps tendon Lateral condyle tibia via iliotibial tract
Knee only	Vastus medialis Vastus intermedius Vastus lateralis Biceps femoris (short head) Popliteus	Anterior upper femur and tendon of adductor magnus Anterior and lateral surfaces of body of femur Greater trochanter and linea aspera of femur Linea aspera Lateral condyle of femur	Superior and medial surfaces of patella and capsule of knee joint Superior surface of patella and suprapatellar bursa Superior and lateral surfaces of patella and capsule of knee joint Head of fibula Posterior surface of upper tibia
Knee and ankle	Gastrocnemius Plantaris	Lateral surface of lateral condyle and posterior surface of medial femoral condyle Posterior surface of lateral femoral condyle	Calcaneum, via Achilles tendon Calcaneum, via Achilles tendon (acts with gastrocnemius)
Ankle only	Soleus	Soleal line and middle one-third of medial border of tibia and posterior surface of upper one-third fibula	Calcaneum, via Achilles tendon
Ankle and tarsus	Peroneus longus Peroneus brevis Tibialis anterior Tibialis posterior Peroneus tertius	Lateral surface of upper two-thirds of lateral fibula Lateral surface of lower two-thirds of lateral fibula Lateral surface of upper one-half of tibia and local interosseous membrane Upper one-half of tibia, fibula and local interosseous membrane Anterior surface of distal one-quarter of fibula	Base of first metatarsal and lateral side of medial (first) cuneiform Base of fifth metatarsal Base of first metatarsal and inferomedial aspect of medial (first) cuneiform Medial (first) cuneiform, inferior aspects of all tarsal bones (except the talus) and bases of second, third and fourth metatarsals Dorsal shaft of fifth metatarsal
Tarsus and toes	Extensor digitorum brevis Flexor digitorum brevis Flexor accessories (quadratus plantae) Abductor hallucis Abductor digiti minimi	Superior and anterior surfaces of the calcaneum Medial process of calcaneal tuberosity Plantar, medial and lateral aspects of calcaneum Medial process of calcaneal tuberosity and flexor retinaculum Calcaneal tuberosity	Dorsum of proximal phalanx of hallux, and extensor expansions of toes 2–4 Plantar, middle phalanges of toes 2–5 Tendon flexor digitorum longus Medial side of proximal phalanx of hallux Lateral side of proximal phalanx of fifth toe
Toes only	Dorsal interossei Plantar interossei Lumbricals Flexor hallucis brevis Adductor hallucis Flexor digiti minimi brevis	Adjacent sides of metatarsals 1–5 Medial sides of metatarsals 3–5 Digital tendon slips of flexor digitorum longus Medial plantar aspect of the cuboid Bases of 2–4 metatarsals and transverse plantar ligament of 2–4 metatarsophalangeal joints Base of fifth metatarsal	Lateral side of toes 2–4 and medial side toe 2 Medial sides of bases of proximal phalanges of toes 3–5 Extensor expansions toes 2–5 Medial and lateral sides of base of proximal phalanx of hallux Lateral side of base of proximal side of hallux Lateral side of base of proximal phalanx of toe 5

Table 2: Movements occurring about the joints of the lower limb and foot

Movement about joint	Muscle causing the movement	Nerve supply to muscle
Hip flexion	Iliacus Psoas major Rectus femoris Sartorius Tensor fasciae lata Pectineus Adductor longus Adductor brevis	Ventral rami of L1 and L2 Ventral rami of L1 and L2 Femoral Femoral Superior gluteal Femoral Obturator Obturator
Hip extension	Gluteus maximus Semimembranosus Semitendinosus Biceps femoris, long head Adductor magnus, ischial part	Inferior gluteal Tibial part of sciatic nerve Tibial part of sciatic nerve Tibial part of sciatic nerve Tibial part of sciatic nerve
Hip adduction	Adductor longus Adductor brevis Adductor magnus Gracilis Pectineus Quadratus femoris	Obturator Obturator Obturator Obturator Femoral Ventral rami of L4, L5 and S1
Hip abduction	Gluteus medius Gluteus minimus Tensor fasciae lata Piriformis Obturator internus, in flexion	Superior gluteal Superior gluteal Superior gluteal Ventral rami of L5 and SI Ventral rami of L5 and S1
Medial rotation of leg at hip	Tensor fasciae lata Gluteus minimus Anterior fibres of gluteus maximus Adductors longus, brevis and magnus Iliopsoas	Superior gluteal Superior gluteal Superior gluteal Superior gluteal Ventral rami L1 and L2
Lateral rotation of leg at hip	Sartorius Gluteus maximus Obturator internus Gemelli Obturator externus Quadratus femoris Piriformis, in flexion	Femoral Inferior gluteal Ventral rami of L5, S1 and S2 Ventral rami of L5, S1 and S2 Obturator Ventral rami of L4, L5 and S1 Ventral rami of L5, S1 and S2
Knee flexion	Semimembranosus Semitendinosus Biceps femoris, long head Biceps femoris, short head Gracilis Sartorius Popliteus Gastrocnemius	Sciatic (tibial) Sciatic (tibial) Sciatic (tibial) Common peroneal Obturator Femoral Tibial Tibial
Knee extension	Vastus medialis Vastus lateralis Vastus intermedius Rectus femoris Gluteus maximus Tensor fasciae lata	Femoral Femoral Femoral Femoral Inferior gluteal Superior gluteal
Lateral rotation of leg = medial rotation of thigh in knee flexion	Biceps femoris, long head Biceps femoris, short head Gluteus maximus Tensor fasciae lata	Tibial Common peroneal Inferior gluteal Superior gluteal
Medial rotation of leg with knee flexed	Popliteus	Tibial
Medial rotation of leg with knee extended	Semimembranosus Semitendinosus Gracilis Sartorius	Sciatic (tibial) Sciatic (tibial) Obturator Femoral
Ankle plantarflexion	Gastrocnemius Soleus Plantaris Tibialis posterior Flexor hallucis longus Flexor digitorum longus Peroneus longus Peroneus brevis	Tibial Tibial Tibial Tibial Tibial Tibial Superficial peroneal Superficial peroneal
Ankle dorsiflexion	Tibialis anterior Extensor hallucis longus Extensor digitorum longus Peroneus tertius	Deep peroneal Deep peroneal Deep peroneal Deep peroneal
Subtalar and midtarsal inversion	Tibialis anterior Extensor hallucis longus Tibialis posterior	Deep peroneal Deep peroneal Tibial
Subtalar and midtarsal eversion	Peroneus longus Peroneus brevis Extensor digitorum longus Peroneus tertius	Superficial peroneal Superficial peroneal Deep peroneal Deep peroneal
1 Toe plantarflexion (MTPJ; IPJ)	Flexor hallucis longus Flexor hallucis brevis	Tibial Medial plantar
2–5 Toes plantarflexion (MTPJs; IPJs)	Flexor digitorum longus Flexor accessorius (quadratus plantae) Flexor digitorum brevis Lumbricals Interossei	Tibial Lateral plantar Medial plantar Medial plantar, toe 2; lateral plantar toes 3–5 Lateral plantar
1 Toe dorsiflexion	Extensor hallucis longus Extensor hallucis brevis	Deep peroneal Deep peroneal
2–5 Toes dorsiflexion 2–4 Toes dorsiflexion	Extensor digitorum longus Extensor digitorum brevis	Deep peroneal Deep peroneal
Toe abduction (away from midline of foot = adduction toward midline of body)
Toe 1 Toes 2–4 Toe 5	Abductor hallucis Dorsal interossei Abductor digit minimi	Medial plantar Lateral plantar Lateral plantar
Toe adduction (toward the midline of foot = abduction away from midline of body)
Toe 1 Toes 2–5	Adductor hallucis* Plantar interossei	Lateral plantar Lateral plantar
Note: Primary action of muscles is printed in normal type; muscles that give some contribution to this action are printed in italics . The nerve supply to the lower limb (lower leg and foot) is derived from the sciatic and femoral nerves. Dysfunction or compromise of either of these nerves causes marked motor, sensory and autonomic effects in the lower leg and foot. MTPJ, metatarsophalangeal joint; IPJ, interphalangeal joint.

plantaris

[L.]

1. plantar.

2. the superficial digital flexor muscle of the hindlimb.