Anterior Muscles of the Lower Leg
Located near the front of the shin, the lower leg is home to a group of muscles known as the anterior muscles. This group consists of the tibialis anterior, extensor hallucis longus, extensor digitorum longus, and peroneus tertius muscles. Collectively, these muscles play a crucial role in dorsiflexion, which involves the upward motion of the feet and toes. Additionally, the tibialis anterior muscle has the ability to invert the foot and direct the sole towards the center of the body. To locate your tibialis anterior muscle, simply place your hand over the shin and elevate your foot.
Lower Leg Lateral Muscles
The peroneus longus and peroneus brevis are two muscles located on the outside of the lower leg. These muscles are part of the lateral muscle group. The peroneus longus is responsible for two movements: eversion and plantarflexion of the ankle. Eversion occurs when the sole of the foot is turned away from the midline of the body. Plantarflexion, on the other hand, is the movement of pressing on a gas pedal or standing on tiptoes. Underneath the peroneus longus, you will find the peroneus brevis which provides weak assistance to the movements performed by the peroneus longus.