What Is the Soleus Muscle?

The soleus muscle is named after its shape. It is inserted horizontally under the gastrocnemius muscle behind the fibula and tibia, all the way to the inside of the calf. Therefore, when viewed from the front, it can be seen under the calf muscle on the medial and lateral calves. The inner body plays a greater role.

The soleus muscle is one of the important structures of the leg. The flat calf muscle below the gastrocnemius muscle starts from behind the upper end of the tibia and fibula. It is called the soleus muscle because it looks like a soleus. It is called calf triceps in combination with the gastrocnemius muscle.

Chinese name: Soleus muscle
Foreign name: soleus

Starting point: Knee joint tibia and fibula head
Stop: The lower Achilles tendon stops at the sole of the foot
Function: Rotate your feet and lift your feet

Soleus Muscle I. Overview

1. Soleus: One of the muscles behind the calf. Located on the deep side of the bowel muscles. It starts from the upper end of the tibia and fibula and meets the two gastrocnemius muscles downward to form an swollen muscular abdomen on the upper leg. Continue down to the Achilles tendon, ending at the calcaneal tubercle. Innervated by tibial nerve. This muscle is hypertrophic and strong, and it plays an important role in standing, walking, running and jumping.

The superficial muscles of the posterior calf, starting from the tibial condylar line, 1/3 in the medial margin of the tibia, the fibula head and the back of the upper 1/3 of the fibula, and the fiber arches at the two ends of the gastrocnemius muscle, descending below the middle of the calf, and the gastrocnemius muscle migration behavior The flat tendon participates in the formation of the Achilles tendon. The muscle fibers are arranged in a double feather shape. The starting point of the muscles is strengthened by the tendon fibers. The tendon arch that constitutes the soleus muscle crosses the bone space of the calf. The soleus muscle is innervated by the tibial nerve. It mainly works to raise the heel when walking, that is, the plantar flexion ankle joint. If the end is fixed, the knee joint can still flex.

2. Soleus muscle line: proposed by Levine in 1976, is a normal anatomical variation. It starts at the proximal end of the tibia and moves obliquely distally and medially and ends at the inner edge of the tibia. It is part of the sole of the soleus muscle. X-ray manifestation: This line is located in the posterior 1/3 of the tibial bone, showing a linear epiphyseal protrusion, and the underlying bone structure is completely normal. Orthophotos appear as a dense oblique line shadow and should not be mistaken for lesions.

3. Gastrocnemius: one of the posterior calf muscles. Tightly located under the skin, its sole is the soleus muscle. This muscle starts from the medial and lateral heads from the back of the inner and outer epicondyles of the femur, and meets the soleus muscle 3 downwards, forming a swollen calf belly on the upper part of the calf, continuing down to the Achilles tendon, and stopping at the calcaneal tubercle . This muscle and soleus muscle have a total of 3 heads, so it is also called calf triceps. The calf triceps can flex the plantar flexion (lift the heel); when standing, fix the ankle joint to prevent the body from leaning forward. Innervated by tibial nerve.

The gastrocnemius is a superficial group of muscles on the back of the calf. There are two inner and outer heads, the medial head starts from a triangular bulge on the medial condyle of the femur, the lateral head starts from the proximal end of the lateral femoral condyle, and there is a synovial capsule on the deep side of the two heads. The gastrocnemius muscle has an enlarged abdomen, which is adjacent to each other at the inferior corner of the popliteal fossa, and the angle formed is mostly 25 ° -30 °. This muscle descends with the soleus muscle and moves to the Achilles tendon, which stops at the calcaneal tubercle. The gastrocnemius artery originates from the iliac artery, the vein and the artery, and is injected into the iliac vein or saphenous vein. The nerves of the gastrocnemius muscle all come from the tibial nerve. Including medial and lateral muscle nerves. The gastrocnemius muscle can lift the heel up when walking and standing. When standing, the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles participate in strengthening the knee joint and adjust the position of the calf and foot. For anterior tibial skin defects or deep sinus tracts and scars, the myocutaneous flap formed by the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle and its skin surface can be rotated forward. The gastrocnemius muscle can also affect the longitudinal arch of the foot. When the muscle is paralyzed or atrophied, the longitudinal arch of the foot will deepen. This muscle is innervated by the tibial nerve. When the femoral condyle is fractured, the distal end of the gastrocnemius muscle is often displaced from the back.

Soleus Muscle II Anatomy

The gastrocnemius muscle is located under the skin behind the calf, and on the surface of the soleus muscle, there are two heads: the lateral head from the femoral epicondyle; the medial head is higher from the femoral epicondyle. The muscle bundles of the two heads are downward, about each other around the middle of the calf, and migrate to the thicker aponeurosis. This aponeurosis and the deep soleus aponeurosis tend to form a large calcanean tendon t.) Stop at the calcaneal tuberosity. This muscle contracts and, when nearly fixed, causes calf flexion and plantar flexion. For distal fixation, pull the lower end of the femur and the lower leg backwards to straighten the knee joint.

The gastrocnemius and soleus muscles form the triceps of the calf, which is one of the main muscles to maintain the human body upright. In walking, running, and jumping, it plays an important role in flexing the foot. The gastrocnemius muscle is innervated by the tibial nerve.

Soleus muscle: Located on the deep side of the gastrocnemius muscle, almost covered by this muscle. Its shape is like a soleus, hence the name. Starting from the upper end of the fibula, the tibial condyle, and the middle 1/3 of the back of the tibial body, the muscle bundles migrate down to a tendon, and together with the gastrocnemius tendon, it forms the Achilles tendon and stops at the calcaneal tubercle. This muscle contracts, flexes the foot and rotates externally. When it is far fixed, it pulls the lower leg backwards to extend the knee joint.

The soleus muscle and the gastrocnemius muscle together are called the calf triceps, which is one of the main muscles to maintain the human body upright. In walking, running, and jumping, it plays an important role in flexing your feet and pushing the human body off the ground. The soleus muscle is innervated by the tibial nerve.

1. Starting point: tibial soleus muscle line, posterior tibial fascia, fibula neck and posterior peroneal fascia.

2. Stop: Calcaneal tuberosity.

3. Trigger point position:

(1) The distal end of the gastrocnemius muscle.

(2) Fibula head.

(3) The upper and outer sides of the distal end of the gastrocnemius muscle.

4. Involved pain: Achilles tendon, behind the heel, sole of the foot, near the trigger point; upper half of the back of the calf; sacroiliac joint on the same side.

Soleus muscle III, diseases related to soleus muscle

Charc-Maric-Tooth syndrome:

Also known as progressive neuromuscular atrophy, peroneal muscular atrophy, hereditary neurogenic musculara trophies, Tooth syndrome, progressive peroneal muscular atrohy , Charcoal-Mali-Tuts disease.

This syndrome was named after Charc, Maric and Tooth each reported in 1886. China's Chen Rang and other first reports in 1959 still report from time to time. In 1984, Wen Lidou and others reported that a family of 3 sisters suffered from the disease. In addition to the characteristics of the disease, it was also accompanied by a special type of multi-system damage such as eye symptoms and myocardial damage.

The cause of soleus muscle

There are obvious familial and polygenic familial hereditary diseases, most of which are autosomal dominant, and also recessive or associated.

Soleus pathology

Mainly distal peripheral nerve symmetry, segmental demyelinating and axonal mutation, accompanied by excessive proliferation of Schwann cells and connective tissues, especially the anterior horn of spinal cord with enlarged neck and lumbar enlargement and disappearance of Clarke column cells and spinal cerebellar tract Mild degeneration.

Soleus clinical manifestations

More than 20 years of age, the onset of onset, slowly after the onset. The initial atrophy of the peroneus muscles, the two feet can not be dorsiflexion and hang down, you must lift your two feet while walking to form the so-called "upstairs" walking style. Due to the atrophy of the peroneus muscle, the bilateral hoof varus foot was caused by the atrophy of the intergeniolar muscles, resulting in arched and claw-shaped feet. May also have small hand muscles (large and small fish muscles and interosseous muscles) atrophy, gradually spread to the arms, shoulders and so on. It can also be accompanied by optic atrophy, which can evolve into flaccid paralysis of the limbs over time. A few cases have only hand muscle atrophy, which does not invade the lower limbs, tendon reflexes are weakened, and there are perceptual disturbances, paresthesias, and pain at the affected site, but its progress is slower than movement disorders. Skin nutrition disorders, especially in the lower limbs, are common, and lower limb muscle atrophy rarely exceeds one-third of the thighs, so the thighs are "pouring wine bottles." People with progressive tibiofibular muscle atrophy with toe contracture are called Brossard syndrome or Erchhokst progressive muscle atrophy. Generally, patients can live to advanced age, and it is rare that people die directly because of this disease.

Laboratory tests: Cerebrospinal fluid is normal, with occasional slight increase in protein. The electromyography shows that the conduction velocity of motor nerves is decreased, the atrophic muscles are denervated, and muscle tremor and beam tremor can be seen, the amplitude of which is reduced, and large amplitude polyphase potentials can be seen.

Soleus muscle diagnosis

According to clinical manifestations, the patient is young and begins with muscular atrophy of both lower extremities. Especially, the atrophy has a special shape like a pour bottle, and the disease progress is slow. The diagnosis is not difficult. However, it must be identified from the following diseases. Progressive spinal muscular atrophy: Onset in adulthood, small muscle atrophy that first occurs in the hand, and no sensory disturbance. Friedreich ataxia: There are also arched feet, but there are nystagmus, ataxia, extensor diaphragmatic reflex, scoliosis, etc., and atrophy of limbs is rare. Polyneuritis: muscle atrophy at the extremities of limbs, gastrocnemius muscle pain and tenderness, socks-like glove-type peripheral sensory disorders are more obvious than gastrocnemius atrophy.

Soleus muscle treatment

There are no special therapies, which can be used for massage and physical therapy. Exercise can help restore muscle function. Orthopedics can correct walking disorders.