Human Anatomy - Kotsan I. Y. 2009

General overview of muscles responsible for movements of individual body parts
Movements of the lower limb
Muscles responsible for movements of the toes

The Movements of the toes involve Muscles extending from the leg to the FOOT, as well as muscles located within the foot itself.

The muscles situated on the plantar surface of the foot flex the toes, while those on the dorsal surface extend them. The hallux and the little toe are served by entire groups of muscles. Some muscles are also capable of abducting and adducting the toes.

Toe flexion is performed by the following muscles:

1) flexor hallucis brevis;

2) flexor hallucis longus;

3) flexor digitorum brevis;

4) flexor digitorum longus;

5) quadratus plantae (acting as an accessory HEAD of the flexor digitorum longus);

6) flexor digiti minimi brevis;

7) plantar interossei (flexing the proximal Phalanges of the toes);

8) dorsal interossei (flexing the proximal phalanges of the toes);

9) lumbricals (flexing the proximal phalanges of the toes).

Toe extension is carried out by the following muscles:

1) extensor digitorum brevis;

2) extensor digitorum longus;

3) extensor hallucis brevis;

4) extensor hallucis longus;

5) dorsal interossei (extending the middle and distal phalanges);

6) plantar interossei (extending the middle and distal phalanges).

Abduction of the toes (away from the sagittal plane passing through the second toe) is performed by the following muscles:

1) dorsal interossei (the first dorsal interosseous Muscle pulls the second toe medially, whereas the second, third, and fourth muscles pull their respective toes laterally);

2) abductor hallucis;

3) abductor digiti minimi.

Adduction of the toes (toward the sagittal plane passing through the second toe) is executed by the following muscles:

1) plantar interossei;

2) lumbrical muscles;

3) adductor hallucis muscle.