Tibialis anterior

Tibialis anterior is a muscle in humans that spans the length of the shin, from the inner aspect of the tibia to the foot, and plays a key role in dorsiflexion and inversion of the foot.

Anatomy

The tibialis anterior muscle originates from the upper two-thirds of the lateral (outside) surface of the tibia and inserts into the medial cuneiform and first metatarsal bones of the foot. It acts to dorsiflex and invert the foot. This muscle is mostly located near the shin.

It is situated on the lateral side of the tibia; it is thick and fleshy above, tendinous below. The tibialis anterior overlaps the anterior tibial vessels and deep peroneal nerve in the upper part of the leg.

Function

The tibialis anterior muscle functions to 'dorsiflex' and 'invert' the foot. This means it lifts the foot up towards the shin (dorsiflexion) and turns the sole of the foot inwards (inversion). It also aids in the stabilization of the ankle.

The tibialis anterior muscle is the most medial muscle of the anterior compartment of the leg. It is responsible for dorsiflexing and inverting the foot, and its tendon can be felt on the medial part of the foot and dorsal side of the ankle.

Clinical significance

Damage to the deep peroneal nerve can result in foot drop (the inability to dorsiflex the foot), a distinctive gait where the foot is lifted high to prevent the toes from dragging on the ground during walking.

See also

• Tibialis posterior muscle
• Extensor hallucis longus muscle
• Extensor digitorum longus muscle

Tibialis anterior Resources
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