Extensor Digitorum Longus

This section is about the
Muscles of the Legs and Feet

The extensor digitorum longus is a muscle located in the inside upper-thigh.

It is easy to work out the function of the extensor digitorum longus muscle because an extensor is a muscle that causes a movement that increases the angle between articulating bones. The actions of the extensor digitorum longus muscle include extending the toes - especially the four lateral toes as the extensor hallucis longus extends the great toe.

Origin, Insertion and Actions of the Extensor Digitorum Longus muscles:

Point(s) of Origin:	Lateral tibial condyle which is on the tibia bone Head of the fibula bone
Point(s) of Insertion:	Phalange of the 2nd toe Phalange of the 3rd toe Phalange of the 4th toe Phalange of the 5th toe, these phalanges being bones at the distal ends of the respective toes
Action(s):	Extends the toes Dorsiflexes the ankle joint Everts the foot

The extensor digitorum longus muscle is labelled on our diagram of human anterior muscles.

More about Muscles:

The following are some popular pages in the section about the human muscular system:

The structure of muscle tissue
The structure of muscle cells
Labelled diagrams of the muscles in different parts of the body including anterior muscles, posterior muscles and facial muscles
Types of muscle contractions
Movements at joints

There are also more pages about the words used to describe muscles (terminology), the anatomy and physiology of muscles, muscular disorders and associated topics. See also books about sports medicine.

This may be useful study or revision material for students following courses in Human Anatomy, Sports Science, Massage, Reflexology or other subjects that require knowledge of the muscular structures of the arms, legs, hands and feet.

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Extensor Digitorum Longus

Origin, Insertion and Actions of the Extensor Digitorum Longus muscles:

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