Facial Muscle Anatomy The facial muscles, also called craniofacial muscles, are a group of about 20 flat skeletal muscles, lying underneath the skin of the face and scalp. The muscles of facial expression (also known as the mimetic muscles) can generally be divided into three main functional categories: orbital, nasal, and oral. Contrary to the…
Suboccipitals Muscle Anatomy The suboccipital muscles are a group of four muscles situated at the base of the skull. The suboccipital muscles are important because they have a key role in providing motor control of the head and neck. The four muscles are the rectus capitis posterior major, obliquus capitis superior, obliquus capitis inferior, and…
Introduction A below-knee amputation (“BKA”) is a transtibial amputation that involves removing the foot, ankle joint, distal tibia, and fibula with related soft tissue structures. In general, a BKA is preferred over an above-knee amputation (AKA), as the former has better rehabilitation and functional outcomes. The rates of lower extremity amputation have declined in recent…
Introduction The erector spinae is a series of muscles that extend from the sacrum to the neck and is located within the back, which is the largest muscle group in the body. The muscles of this specific group are divided into three different sections, which are the iliocostalis, longissimus and spinalis, which all have different…
The Tibialis Anterior muscle is a large muscle in the front of the lower leg that is responsible for dorsiflexing and inverting the foot. It is important for walking, running, and jumping, and for athletes who participate in sports that require rapid changes in direction. Introduction The tibialis anterior is a muscle in humans that…
INTRODUCTION The plantaris is one of the superficial muscles of the superficial posterior compartment of the leg, one of the fascial compartments of the leg. It is composed of a thin muscle belly and a long thin tendon. While not as thick as the achilles tendon, the plantaris tendon (which tends to be between 30–45…
The rectus femoris is one of the four quadriceps muscles located in the anterior (front) compartment of the thigh. It is a powerful extensor muscle that plays a crucial role in the movement of the knee and hip joints. Introduction The muscle closest to the skin and almost vertically oriented in the anterior thigh compartment…
Introduction The trapezius muscle is a large, superficial muscle located in the upper back and neck region of the human body. It is one of the major muscles responsible for the movement and stability of the shoulder girdle. Its name originates from its trapezoid shape, with its broad base spanning the upper back and its…
What is a Hallux Rigidus? Hallux rigidus is a disorder of the joint located at the base of the big toe. It causes pain and stiffness in the joint, and with time, it gets increasingly harder to bend the toe. Hallux is a Latin word that means the big toe, while rigidus indicates that the…
Gastrocnemius muscle Anatomy Gastrocnemius muscle, also called leg triceps, large posterior muscle of the calf group of the leg.The gastrocnemius muscle is a superficial two-headed muscle that is in the back part of the lower leg of humans. It runs from its two heads just above the knee to the heel, a three-joint muscle (knee,…
