The calf muscle
Gastrocnemius · musculus gastrocnemius
The two-headed muscle that gives your calf its shape and pushes you up onto your toes.
What it does
The gastrocnemius forms the bulge of the calf. Its two heads start just above the knee on the femur and join the Achilles tendon to the heel. It points the foot down, lifting you onto tiptoe, and helps bend the knee. It is built for speed, powering jumps and sprints.
Surprising fact
Its name comes from the Greek for "belly of the leg", because of its rounded shape.
Why it matters
The sharp calf cramps that wake people at night usually start in this muscle. Gently pulling the toes towards the shin stretches it and eases the cramp.
Nearby
Read more
Sources
Drafted with AI help; awaiting a human fact-check against these sources.
Open in the 3D atlas · Suggest a correction · Not medical advice.
3D models: Z-Anatomy & BodyParts3D (CC BY-SA 4.0 / 2.1 JP). Card text CC BY 4.0.