Gastrocnemius

Looks like

The two-headed calf muscle that forms the bulge of the calf, crossing both the knee and the ankle.

What it does

Points the foot and pushes the body off the ground in walking, running and jumping.

Keeping it well

Tears with a sudden sharp pain in the calf ('tennis leg'). A calf that is swollen, hot and painful without injury needs checking for a clot the same day.

Its parts

• Lateral head of gastrocnemius
• Medial head of gastrocnemius

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