Tibialis anterior
Musculus tibialis anterior
MuscularSuperficial musclesLegLeft and right
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- What it is
- The fleshy muscle just lateral to the shin, arising from the lateral tibial condyle, the upper two-thirds of the lateral tibia and the interosseous membrane.
- Function
- Dorsiflexes the ankle and inverts the foot; lifts the forefoot clear of the ground during the swing phase of walking.
- Size
- Belly about 20 cm long, 3-4 cm wide.
- Clinical note
- Paralysis (e.g. common fibular nerve palsy) causes foot drop with a high-stepping gait; it is often involved in anterior "shin splints" and compartment syndrome.