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| Flexor digitorum brevis muscle | |
|---|---|
 Muscles of the sole of the foot. First layer. (Flexor digitorum brevis visible at center.) | |
 The plantar arteries. Superficial view. (Flexor digitorum brevis visible at center.) | |
| Details | |
| Origin | Calcaneus |
| Insertion | Middle phalanges of toe 2-5 |
| Artery | Medial and lateral plantar arteries and plantar arch, plantar metatarsal and plantar digital arteries |
| Nerve | Medial plantar nerve |
| Actions | Flexion of the lateral four digits |
| Antagonist | Extensor digitorum longus andextensor digitorum brevis |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | musculus flexor digitorum brevis |
| TA98 | A04.7.02.067 |
| TA2 | 2683 |
| FMA | 37450 |
| Anatomical terms of muscle | |
Theflexor digitorum brevis orflexor digitorum communis brevis[1] is a muscle which lies in the middle of the sole of the foot, immediately above the central part of theplantaraponeurosis, with which it is firmly united.
Its deep surface is separated from the lateralplantar vessels and nerves by a thin layer offascia.
It arises by a narrow tendon, from the medial process of the tuberosity of thecalcaneus, from the central part of the plantar aponeurosis, and from the intermuscular septa between it and the adjacent muscles.
It passes forward, and divides into fourtendons, one for each of the four lesser toes.
Opposite the bases of the firstphalanges, each tendon divides into two slips, to allow of the passage of the corresponding tendon of theflexor digitorum longus; the two portions of the tendon then unite and form a grooved channel for the reception of the accompanying long Flexor tendon.
Finally, it divides a second time, and is inserted into the sides of the second phalanx about its middle. The mode of division of the tendons of the flexor digitorum brevis, and of their insertion into the phalanges, is analogous to that of the tendons of theflexor digitorum superficialis in the hand.
Innervation is by themedial plantar nerve.
Slip to the little toe may occasionally be absent, where it may be replaced by a small fusiform muscle arising from the long flexor tendon or from thequadratus plantæ.
This article incorporates text in thepublic domain frompage 491 of the 20th edition ofGray's Anatomy(1918)
