| Tibialis posterior muscle | |
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| The mucous sheaths of the tendons around the ankle. Medial aspect. (Tibialis posterior labeled at top center.) | |
| Latin | musculus tibialis posterior |
| Gray's | subject #129 484 |
| Origin | tibia, fibula |
| Insertion | navicular, medial cuneiform |
| Artery | posterior tibial artery |
| Nerve | tibial nerve |
| Actions | inversion of the foot, plantar flexion of the foot at the ankle |
| Antagonist | Tibialis anterior muscle |
The Tibialis posterior is the most central of all the leg muscles, and is located in the posterior compartment of the leg.
It is the key stabilizing muscle of the lower leg.
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Origin and insertion
The tibialis posterior muscle originates on the inner posterior borders of the tibia and fibula. It is also attached to the interosseous membrane, which attaches to the tibia and fibula.
The tendon of tibialis posterior muscle descends posterior to the medial malleolus and terminates by dividing into plantar, main, and recurrent components. The plantar portion inserts into the bases of the second, third and fourth metatarsals, the second and third cuneiforms and the cuboid. The the main portion inserts into the tuberosity of the navicular and the plantar surface of the first cuneiform. The recurrent portion inserts into the sustentaculum tali of the calcaneus.
Function
As well as being a key muscle/tendon for stabilization, the tibialis posterior muscle also contracts to produce inversion of the foot and assists in the plantar flexion of the foot at the ankle.
Additional images
 Bones of the right leg. Posterior surface. |
 Bones of the right foot. Plantar surface. |
 Coronal section through right talocrural and talocalcaneal joints. |
 Muscles of the back of the leg. Deep layer. |
 Muscles of the sole of the foot. Third layer. |
 The popliteal, posterior tibial, and peroneal arteries. |
Tibialis posterior also has a major role in supporting the medial arch of the foot and therefore dysfunction can lead to flat feet in adults (as well as unopposed eversion as inversion is lost, leading to a valgus deformity).
External links
- LUC tibp
- SUNY Labs 15:st-0416
- Tibialis+posterior at eMedicine Dictionary
- Diagram at washington.edu
- Diagram at latrobe.edu.au
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