Flexor Hallucis Brevis

Authors

Affiliations

Nathaniel Yomogida, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.S. in Kinesiology

Chloë Kerstein, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.A. in Neuroscience

Schematic of 3rd layer of Plantar Intrinsic Foot Muscles¹
1: Quadratus Plantae
2: Lumbricals
3: Flexor Hallucis Brevis
4: Adductor hallucis
5: Flexor digiti minimi
6: Opponens digiti minimi
7: Plantar interossei
8: Dorsal Interossei

3rd Layer of Intrinsic Plantar Foot Muscles¹

Reading list

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• ³

Overview

Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Innervation	Action
Flexor hallucis brevis	Cuboid Lateral cuneiforms Plantar calcaneocuboid lig.	Medial Sesamoid bone Lateral Sesamoid bone	Lateral Plantar n. Medial Plantar n. S1 - S2	MTP Flexion Supports Longitudinal Arch

3rd layer of the muscles of the sole of the foot

Origin

• Cuboid¹
• Lateral cuneiforms¹
• Plantar calcaneocuboid lig¹

Note

Other sources state that the /The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Lower limb muscles/Ankle and Foot/Intrinsic Dorsal Foot Muscles/flexor_hallucis_brevis.html#abbreviation originates from the

Insertion

Base of proximal phalanx 1st toe (via med and lateral sesamoids)¹

“More recently, a study of 42 cadaveric specimens also verified that the adductor hallucis inserts into the lateral sesamoid and has a conjoined tendon with the FHB which then inserts into the base of the proximal phalanx”

• quote source²
• Source⁴

“The medial and lateral heads of the FHB insert onto distinct locations at the base of the proximal phalanx”²

Innervation

• Medial head: Medial Plantar N. (S1, S2)
• Lateral head: Lateral Plantar N. (S1, S2)

Action

• 1st MTP: Flexion¹
• Longitudinal arch: Support¹

MMT

“The FHB VIDEO and FHL muscles VIDEO produce MTP joint flexion and IP joint flexion. The foot is maintained in midposition. The first metatarsal is stabilized, and resistance is applied beneath the proximal and distal phalanx of the great toe into toe extension.”⁵

References

1.

Gilroy AM, MacPherson BR, Wikenheiser JC, Voll MM, Wesker K, Schünke M, eds. Atlas of Anatomy. 4th ed. Thieme; 2020.

2.

Hakim-Zargar M, Aronow MS, Gibson L, Obopilwe E. Implications for the anatomy of the flexor hallucis brevis insertion. Foot & Ankle International. 2010;31(1):65-68. doi:10.3113/FAI.2010.0065

3.

Kelikian AS, Sarrafian SK, Sarrafian SK, eds. Sarrafian’s Anatomy of the Foot and Ankle: Descriptive, Topographical, Functional. 3rd ed. Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2011.

4.

Owens S, Thordarson DB. The adductor hallucis revisited. Foot & Ankle International. 2001;22(3):186-191. doi:10.1177/107110070102200303

5.

Dutton M. Dutton’s Orthopaedic Examination, Evaluation, and Intervention. 5th ed. McGraw Hill Education; 2020.