What is the calf muscle called?
The calf muscle is called the gastrocnemius. Gray's Anatomy (1918) describes it as a large, superficial, two-headed muscle that forms the bulk of the calf.
What it is
- A large, superficial, two-headed muscle that forms the bulk of the calf.
- Both heads arise from the lower end of the femur.
- Points the foot downward and helps bend the knee.
Where it is
- On the back of the leg between the knee and the heel.
- Joins the soleus beneath it to form the Achilles tendon.
- The tendon inserts on the back of the calcaneus.
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Last verified: 2026-07-18
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