Anatom3DLateral head of gastrocnemius
Caput laterale musculi gastrocnemii · Zevní hlava dvojhlavého lýtkového svalu
Muscles
Looks like
The outer head of the calf muscle, from the back of the outer thigh bone to the Achilles tendon.
What it does
Points the foot down and helps bend the knee.
Keeping it well
Calf strains are common; eccentric heel drops build resilience.
Related conditions
- Achilles tendon rupture
- Botulism
- Chronic venous insufficiency
- Compartment syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Frailty & falls in older age
- Growing pains
- Heat exhaustion & heatstroke
- Lymphangitis
- Lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis)
- Lymphoedema
- Malnutrition & refeeding syndrome
- Muscle strain (pulled muscle)
- Muscular dystrophy
- Polymyalgia rheumatica
- Restless legs syndrome
- Rhabdomyolysis
- Sarcoma
- Sarcopenia
- Superficial thrombophlebitis
- Tetanus
- Varicose veins
- Venomous snakebite