Plantar flexion
Plantiflexio
- Synonym: Plantiflexion
Definition
Plantar flexion occurs at the ankle joint and involves the sole of the foot moving downwards towards the floor. It is in fact, the flexion movement at the ankle joint. Daily life activities involving plantar flexion at the ankle joint include pressing the peddle of the car for escalating or breaking, standing on tippy toes (such as, in ballet dancing) and jumping off the floor.
Plantar flexion is brought about by the combined action of flexor muscles in the back of the leg (gastrocnemius, soleus, plantaris, flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus and flexor hallucis longus) and by the peroneal compartment muscles, namely the peroneus longus and brevis muscles.
References
Text by Antoine Micheau, MD - Copyright IMAIOS and reviewed by Muhammad A. Javaid, MD, PhD © 2023 IMAIOS.
Jones, O. (2020). Anatomical terms of movement in ‘TeachMeAnatomy’. Available at URL: https://teachmeanatomy.info/the-basics/anatomical-terminology/terms-of-movement/ [accessed on Feb 12th, 2023]
Morrison, W. and Johnson, J. (2017). Everything you need to know about plantar flexion in ‘MedicalNewsToday’. Available at URL: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318249 [accessed on Feb 12th, 2023]
Drake, R.L., Vogl, A.W. and Mitchell, A.W.M. (2009). ‘Chapter 6: Lower Limb’ in Gray’s anatomy for Students. (2nd ed.) Philadelphia PA 19103-2899: Elsevier, pp. 513-516.
