Soleus muscle

Structure

The soleus is located superficially in the posterior compartment of the leg.

The soleus exhibits significant morphological differences across species. It is unipennate in many species. In some animals, such as the rabbit, it is fused for much of its length with the gastrocnemius muscle.

The soleus is a complex, multi-pennate muscle in humans, normally having a separate (posterior) aponeurosis from the gastrocnemius muscle. Most soleus muscle fibers originate from each side of the anterior aponeurosis, attached to the tibia and fibula.{{cite journal

The fibers originating from the anterior surface of the anterior aponeurosis insert onto the median septum, and the fibers originating from the posterior surface of the anterior aponeurosis insert onto the posterior aponeurosis. The posterior aponeurosis and median septum join in the lower quarter of the muscle and then join with the anterior aponeuroses of the gastrocnemius muscles to form the calcaneal tendon, or Achilles tendon, and inserts onto the posterior surface of the calcaneus, or heel bone.

In contrast to some animals, the human soleus and gastrocnemius muscles are relatively separate, so shear can be detected between the soleus and gastrocnemius aponeuroses.{{cite journal

The soleus is vestigial in the horse.{{cite journal

Relations

The gastrocnemius muscle is superficial to (closer to the skin than) the soleus, which lies below the gastrocnemius.

The plantaris muscle and a portion of its tendon run between the two muscles. Deep to it (further from the skin) is the transverse intermuscular septum, which separates the superficial posterior compartment of the leg from the deep posterior compartment.

On the other side of the fascia are the tibialis posterior muscle, the flexor digitorum longus muscle, and the flexor hallucis longus muscle, along with the posterior tibial artery and posterior tibial vein and the tibial nerve.

Since the anterior compartment of the leg is lateral to the tibia, the bulge of muscle medial to the tibia on the anterior side is the posterior compartment. The soleus is superficial middle of the tibia.

Function

The action of the calf muscles, including the soleus, is plantar flexion of the foot (that is, they increase the angle between the foot and the leg). They are powerful muscles vital in walking, running, and keeping balance. The soleus plays an important role in maintaining standing posture; if not for its constant pull, the body would fall forward.

Also, in upright posture, the soleus is responsible for pumping venous blood back into the heart from the periphery each time it contracts and is hence often called the skeletal muscle pump, peripheral heart or the sural (tricipital) pump.

Soleus muscles have more slow muscle fibers than many other muscles. In some animals, such as the guinea pig and cat, soleus consists of 100% slow muscle fibers. Human soleus fiber composition is variable, containing between 60% and 100% slow fibers.

The soleus is the most effective muscle for plantar flexion in a bent knee position. The gastrocnemius originates on the femur, so bending the leg limits its effective tension. During regular movement (i.e., walking) the soleus is the primary muscle utilized for plantar flexion due to the slow-twitch fibers resisting fatigue.

Innervation

The soleus is innervated by the tibial nerve (L4, L5, S1, S2)

Clinical significance

Disease

Due to the thick fascia covering the leg muscles, they are prone to compartment syndrome. This pathology relates to tissue inflammation affecting blood flow and compressing nerves. If left untreated, compartment syndrome can lead to atrophy of muscles, blood clots, and neuropathy.

Additional images

|Image:Gray259.png|Bones of the right leg. Posterior surface. |Image:Gray440_color.png|Cross-section through middle of leg. |Image:Gray1239.png|Back of left lower extremity. |File:Slide1ACCA.JPG|Posterior view.

References

• Gray, Henry. Pick, T. Pickering, & Howden, Robert (Eds.) (1995). Gray's Anatomy (15th ed.). New York: Barnes & Noble Books.
• Saladin, Kenneth S. Anatomy & Physiology: The Unity of Form and Function. 6th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2007. Print.

References

1. (May 2006). "Influence of structure on the tissue dynamics of the human soleus muscle observed in MRI studies during isometric contractions". J Morphol.
2. (2001). "Il potenziamento dell'attività di pompa venosa del tricipite surale in ortopedia e traumatologia mediante l'utilizzo di una nuova apparecchiatura di ginnastica vascolare". Giornale Italiano di Ortopedia e Traumatologia.
3. (7 August 1972). "Hindlimb Muscle Fiber Populations Of Five Mammals". Journal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry.
4. (May 1974). "Motor units in cat soleus muscle: physiological, histochemical and morphological characteristics". The Journal of Physiology.
5. (April 1974). "Human soleus muscle: a comparison of fiber composition and enzyme activities with other leg muscles". Pflügers Archiv.
6. Saladin, Kenneth S. Anatomy & Physiology: The Unity of Form and Function. 6th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2007. Print.
7. {{MedlinePlusEncyclopedia. 001224. Compartment syndrome