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gastrocnemius

 
Dictionary: gas·troc·ne·mi·us   (găs'trŏk-nē'mē-əs, găs'trə-) pronunciation

n., pl., -mi·i (-mē-ī').
The largest, most prominent muscle of the calf of the leg, the action of which extends the foot and bends the knee.

[New Latin gastrocnēmius, from Greek gastroknēmiā, calf of the leg : gastro-, belly (from its belly-like shape); see gastro- + knēmē, leg.]


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Sports Science and Medicine: gastrocnemius
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A superficial muscle with two prominent bellies that form the proximal curve of the posterior calf. Its origin consists of two heads attached to the posterior medial and lateral condyles of the femur. Its insertion is on the tuberosity of the calcaneus via the Achilles tendon. The primary action of the gastrocnemius are knee flexion when the foot is dorsiflexed and plantar flexion when the knee is extended.

Gastrocnemius
Gastrocnemius

Medical Dictionary: gas·troc·ne·mi·us
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(găs'trŏk-nē'mē-əs, găs'trə-)
n., pl. -mi·i (-mē-ī').

A muscle with its origin from the lateral and medial condyles of the femur, with insertion with the soleus muscle by the Achilles tendon into the lower half of the posterior surface of the calcaneus, with nerve supply from the tibial nerve, and whose action causes plantar flexion of the foot.

WordNet: gastrocnemius
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Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: the muscle in the back part of the leg that forms the greater part of the calf; responsible for the plantar flexion of the foot
  Synonym: gastrocnemius muscle


 
 

 

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Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Sports Science and Medicine. The Oxford Dictionary of Sports Science & Medicine. Copyright © Michael Kent 1998, 2006, 2007. All rights reserved.  Read more
Medical Dictionary. The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company Read more
WordNet. WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.  Read more