A number of muscles functioning to move the ankle, foot, and toes are located in the lower leg. They attach the femur (upper leg bone), tibia, and fibula (lower leg bones) and to various bones in the foot and are responsible for a variety of movements - moving the foot upward (dorsiflexion) or downward (plantar flexion), and turning the sole of the foot inward (inversion) or outward (eversion). The "plantar muscles" include the following: The "gastrocnemius," on the back of the lower leg, forms part of the calf. It comes from two immovable ends (or heads) located on the femur, one on the side and one toward the center. The far end of this muscle joins the strong "Achilles tendon," which descends to the heel and attaches to the calcaneus. The gastrocnemius is a powerful plantar flexor of the foot, that aids in pushing the body forward when a person walks or runs. It also works to flex the leg at the knee. The "soleus" is a thick, flat muscle located beneath the gastrocnemius. These two muscles make up the calf of the leg. The soleus rises from the tibia and fibula, and it extends to the heel by way of the Achilles tendon. It acts with the gastrocnemius to cause plantar flexion of the foot. The "flexor digitorum longus" extends from the back surface of the tibia to the foot. Its tendon passes along the plantar surface of the foot. There, it divides into four parts that attach to the terminal bones of the four small toes. It assists in plantar flexion of the foot, flexion of the four small toes, and inversion of the foot.

A number of muscles that function to move the ankle, foot, and toes are located in the lower leg. They attach the femur (upper leg bone), tibia, and fibula (lower leg bones) and to various bones in the foot and are responsible for a variety of movements - moving the foot upward (dorsiflexion) or downward (plantar flexion), and turning the sole of the foot inward (inversion) or outward (eversion). The "dorsal flexor muscles" include the following: The "tibialis anterior" is a dorsal flexor and is an elongated, spindle-shaped muscle located on the front of the lower leg. It arises from the surface of the tibia to pass on the inside over the far end of the tibia, and attaches to bones of the ankle and foot. Contraction of the tibialis anterior causes dorsiflexion and inversion of the foot. The "peroneus tertius" is a muscle of variable size that connects the fibula to the outside of the foot. It functions in dorsiflexion and eversion of the foot. The"extensor digitorum longus" is situated along the outside of the lower leg, just behind the tibialis anterior. It comes from close to the midline of the tibia and the shaft of the fibula. Its tendon divides into four parts as it passes over the front of the ankle. These parts continue over the surface of the foot and attach to the four smaller toes. The actions of this muscle include dorsiflexion of the foot, eversion of the foot, and extension of the toes.

The "peroneus longus" is the evertor muscle, meaning to turn the sole of the foot outward. It is a long, straplike muscle located on the outside of the lower leg. It connects the tibia and the fibula (the lower leg bones) to the foot by means of a stout tendon that passes behind the lateral malleolus (network of nerves and muscles around the ankle). It functions in eversion of the foot, assists in plantar flexion (moving it downward), and helps support the arch of the foot. The corresponding muscle in the hand and forearm is called the "peroneus brevis" muscle.

The hallux (plural, hallucis) are muscles pertaining to the big toe. The "extensor hallucis longus" are muscles used in extending the toe; the "flexor hallucis longus" are used in flexing it and moving it to the side.

The peroneus brevis muscle originates from the mid portion of the shaft of the fibula and inserts on the base of the #5 metatarsal bone. It extends and abducts the foot.