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soleus

[soh-lee-uh s]
noun, plural so·le·i [soh-lee-ahy] /ˈsoʊ liˌaɪ/, so·le·us·es.
  1. a muscle in the calf of the leg, behind the gastrocnemius muscle, that helps extend the foot forward.
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Origin of soleus

1670–80; < New Latin, masculine derivative of Latin solea sandal; see sole2
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for soleus

Historical Examples of soleus

  • Then she raised one of them, and her fingers explored the common tendon of the soleus and gastrocnemius.

    Gray youth

    Oliver Onions

  • On the back of the leg the most important muscles, forming what is known as the calf, are the gastrocnemius and the soleus.

    A Practical Physiology

    Albert F. Blaisdell

  • Here the artery is separated from the inner border of the tibia, by the flexor longus digitorum, and is covered by the soleus.

  • Professor Pancoast divides the inferior portion of the soleus muscle instead of the tendo Achillis.

Word Origin and History for soleus

n.

muscle of the calf of the leg, 1670s, Modern Latin, from Latin solea "sole" (see sole (n.1)). So called for its flatness.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper