gastrocnemius

American  

[gas-trok-nee-mee-uhs, gas-truh-nee-] / ˌgæs trɒkˈni mi əs, ˌgæs trəˈni- /

noun

Anatomy.

plural

gastrocnemii

1. the largest muscle in the calf of the leg, the action of which extends the foot, raises the heel, and assists in bending the knee.

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Other Word Forms

• gastrocnemial adjective
• gastrocnemian adjective

Etymology

Origin of gastrocnemius

1670–80; < New Latin < Greek gastroknēm ( ía ) calf of the leg + Latin -ius noun suffix

Compare meaning

How does gastrocnemius compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• soleus vs. gastrocnemius

Example Sentences

The gastrocnemius increased in stiffness, indicating it might take over most of the function of the calf.

From Science Daily • Mar. 20, 2024

The soleus and gastrocnemius muscles in the calf act in opposition to the tibialis anterior, pointing the foot downward.

From Science Daily • Mar. 20, 2024

To make this gouge, the cutter must have first removed the larger gastrocnemius muscle — likely a good source of meat.

From Scientific American • Jun. 28, 2023

For the leg, the knee-jerk reflex of the quadriceps is common, as is the ankle reflex for the gastrocnemius and soleus.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

A muscular band which extends from the pars interna of the m. gastrocnemius around the front of the knee is present in every emberizine species that I studied and in the Genus Piranga.

From Myology and Serology of the Avian Family Fringillidae A Taxonomic Study by Stallcup, William B.