gastrocnemius

[ gas-trok-nee-mee-uhs, gas-truh-nee- ]

/ ˌgæs trɒkˈni mi əs, ˌgæs trəˈni- /

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noun, plural gas·troc·ne·mi·i [gas-trok-nee-mee-ahy, gas-truh-nee-]. /ˌgæs trɒkˈni miˌaɪ, ˌgæs trəˈni-/. Anatomy.

the largest muscle in the calf of the leg, the action of which extends the foot, raises the heel, and assists in bending the knee.

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Origin of gastrocnemius

1670–80; <New Latin <Greek gastroknēm(ía) calf of the leg + Latin -ius noun suffix

OTHER WORDS FROM gastrocnemius

gas·troc·ne·mi·al, gas·troc·ne·mi·an, adjective

Words nearby gastrocnemius

gastritis cystica polyposa, gastro-, gastroanastomosis, gastrocardiac, gastrocele, gastrocnemius, gastrocoel, gastrocolic, gastrocolic omentum, gastrocolic reflex, gastrocolitis

How to use gastrocnemius in a sentence

Then she raised one of them, and her fingers explored the common tendon of the soleus and gastrocnemius.
Gray youth|Oliver Onions
The two parts of the m. gastrocnemius are most distinct in Vireo.
Myology and Serology of the Avian Family Fringillidae|William B. Stallcup
It relieves the gastrocnemius of muscular strain during weight bearing.
Lameness of the Horse|John Victor Lacroix
The hock is kept fixed in position by the gastrocnemius and the superficial digital flexor (perforatus).
Lameness of the Horse|John Victor Lacroix

Near the stifle it passes between the two heads of the gastrocnemius muscle and continues as the tibial.
Lameness of the Horse|John Victor Lacroix

Medical definitions for gastrocnemius

gastrocnemius

[ găs′trŏk-nē′mē-əs, găs′trə- ]

n. pl. gas•troc•ne•mi•i (-mē-ī′)

A muscle with its origin from the lateral and medial condyles of the femur, with insertion with the soleus muscle by the Achilles tendon into the lower half of the posterior surface of the calcaneus, with nerve supply from the tibial nerve, and whose action causes plantar flexion of the foot.