Gastrocnemius

M. gastrocnemius

Calf muscle that extends the tarsus through the common calcanean tendon.

Laterality:: Paired (left and right)

Draft, not yet reviewed by a veterinarian. Content may contain errors. It is published so the community can review it.

View piece alone in 3D

This piece is a schematic shape, not a scan: there is no freely licensed model for this structure yet.

3D model of this piece: Vet Atlas procedural musculature, CC BY-SA 4.0

Overview

It has a lateral and a medial head. The tendon of origin of each contains a sesamoid bone, the fabella. Their tendons form the main part of the common calcanean tendon.

Origin

Lateral and medial supracondylar tuberosities of the femur.

Insertion

Calcaneal tuber (tuber calcanei).

Action

Extends the tarsus and flexes the stifle.

Innervation

Tibial nerve (n. tibialis).

Clinical relevance

Rupture or avulsion of the common calcanean tendon makes the hock drop: the dog stands with the heel near the ground (plantigrade stance). The tendon includes the gastrocnemius, the superficial digital flexor and the tarsal tendons of the biceps femoris, semitendinosus and gracilis.