Which muscle originates from the head of the fibula and shaft of the tibia and inserts on the calcaneus?

Which muscle originates from the head of the fibula and shaft of the tibia and inserts on the calcaneus?

• A. Tibialis Anterior
• B. Fibularis Longus
• C. Extensor Digitorum Longus
• D. Soleus

Answer: (D)

Understanding muscle origins and insertions helps identify which muscle fits a given description. The muscle that originates from the head of the fibula and the shaft of the tibia and inserts on the calcaneus is the soleus. It comes from the upper portions of the fibula and tibia and joins with the Achilles tendon to attach to the calcaneus, making it a strong plantarflexor of the foot, especially when the knee is flexed. The other muscles listed have different origins and insertions: Tibialis anterior starts on the tibia/fibula and inserts on the foot bones to dorsiflex the foot; Fibularis longus originates on the fibula and inserts on the first metatarsal and medial cuneiform to evert and assist plantarflexion; Extensor digitorum longus originates on the tibia/fibula and extends to the toes.