Extensor Hallucis Longus (EHL)

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 Muscles in the Anterior Compartment of the Leg
1: Tibialis Anterior
2: Extensor Hallucis Longus
3: Extensor Digitorum Longus
4: Fibularis Tertius¹

Muscles in the Anterior Compartment of the Leg¹

Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Innervation	Action
Extensor Hallucis Longus	Fibula (middle 1/3 of medial surface) IO membrane	Dorsal aponeurosis of 1st distal phalanx	Deep Fibular n. L4 - L5	TCJ: DF STJ: Inversion 1st Toe: MTP Extension, IP Extension

Origin

• Fibula (middle third of the medial surface)¹
• IO membrane¹

Insertion

• 1st toe (at the dorsal aponeurosis at the base of its distal phalanx)¹

Nerve

Deep Fibular N. (L4, L5)¹

Action

• TCJ: DF¹
• STJ: INV or EV (depending on initial position of foot)¹
• 1st toe MTP and IP: Extension¹

MMT

“The EHL and the EHB muscles produce the motion of extension of the IP and MTP joints. The foot is maintained in midposition. Resistance is applied to the posterior aspect of both phalanges of the first digit into toe flexion.”²

References

1.

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

2.

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