| Tibialis posterior muscle | |
|---|---|
| The mucous sheaths of the tendons around the ankle. Medial aspect. (Tibialis posterior labeled at top center.) | |
| Latin | musculus tibialis posterior |
| Gray's | subject #129 484 |
| Origin | tibia, fibula |
| Insertion | navicular, medial cuneiform |
| Artery | posterior tibial artery |
| Nerve | tibial nerve |
| Actions | inversion of the foot, plantar flexion of the foot at the ankle |
| Antagonist | Tibialis anterior muscle |
The Tibialis posterior is the most central of all the leg muscles, and is located in the posterior compartment of the leg.
It is the key stabilizing muscle of the lower leg.
Blood is supplied to the muscle by the posterior tibial artery, and innervation is via the tibial nerve.
Contents |
The tibialis posterior muscle originates on the inner posterior borders of the tibia and fibula. It is also attached to the interosseous membrane, which attaches to the tibia and fibula.
The tendon of tibialis posterior muscle descends posterior to the medial malleolus and terminates by dividing into plantar, main, and recurrent components. The plantar portion inserts into the bases of the second, third and fourth metatarsals, the second and third cuneiforms and the cuboid. The main portion inserts into the tuberosity of the navicular and the plantar surface of the first cuneiform. The recurrent portion inserts into the sustentaculum tali of the calcaneus.
As well as being a key muscle/tendon for stabilization, the tibialis posterior muscle also contracts to produce inversion of the foot and assists in the plantar flexion of the foot at the ankle.
Tibialis posterior also has a major role in supporting the medial arch of the foot and therefore dysfunction can lead to flat feet in adults (as well as unopposed eversion as inversion is lost, leading to a valgus deformity).
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