Which muscle inserts on the calcaneus and originates from the femoral condyles?

Which muscle inserts on the calcaneus and originates from the femoral condyles?

• A. Soleus
• B. Tibialis Anterior
• C. Gastrocnemius
• D. Extensor Digitorum Longus

Answer: (C)

The key idea is matching where a muscle starts with where it ends. The muscle that starts from the medial and lateral femoral condyles and ends on the calcaneus is the gastrocnemius. Its two heads originate on the femoral condyles, and it travels via the Achilles tendon to insert on the heel bone, making it a powerful plantarflexor of the foot (and a knee flexor when the leg is straight). The other muscles don’t fit: the soleus also ends on the calcaneus but originates from the tibia and fibula, not the femoral condyles. The tibialis anterior and extensor digitorum longus originate in the tibia/fibula and insert on bones of the foot rather than the calcaneus, so they don’t meet the given origin.

The key idea is matching where a muscle starts with where it ends. The muscle that starts from the medial and lateral femoral condyles and ends on the calcaneus is the gastrocnemius. Its two heads originate on the femoral condyles, and it travels via the Achilles tendon to insert on the heel bone, making it a powerful plantarflexor of the foot (and a knee flexor when the leg is straight).

The other muscles don’t fit: the soleus also ends on the calcaneus but originates from the tibia and fibula, not the femoral condyles. The tibialis anterior and extensor digitorum longus originate in the tibia/fibula and insert on bones of the foot rather than the calcaneus, so they don’t meet the given origin.