Extensor hallucis longus
The extensor hallucis longus muscle extends the foot's big toe. Also, the muscle assists in dorsiflexing, which involves moving the foot so that the toes are closer to the shins. Plus, the muscle helps with the foot's inversion. At the middle part of the fibula's anterior surface, the muscle arises from the interosseus membrane. The muscle then stretches to its insertion at the base of the large toe. Also, the muscle is located between the tibialis anterior and the extensor digitorum longus muscles. Oxygenated blood arrives at the muscle via the anterior tibial artery, and blood is drained by one of the dorsal digital veins. The muscular innervations come by way of the deep fibular nerve. Damage to the extensor hallucis longus muscle may limit the big toe's mobility. Since all five toes play a role in movement, this could have consequences for walking and other motions involving the feet. For some people, the muscle joins, at its base of origination, with the extensor digitorum longus.
Written and medically reviewed by the Healthline Editorial Team
In Depth: Extensor hallucis longus