Calf ( leg ) - wikipedia Calf ( leg ) Calf The calf is the back portion of the lower leg Cross-section of lower right leg, through the calf, showing its 4 compartments : anterior at upper right ; lateral at center right ; deep posterior at center ; superficial posterior at the bottom Details Identifiers Latin sura TA A01. 1.00. 039 FMA 24984 Anatomical terminology ( edit on Wikidata ) The calf ( Latin : sura ) is the back portion of the lower leg in human anatomy. The muscles within the calf correspond to the posterior compartment of the leg. The two largest muscles within this compartment are known together as the calf muscle and attach to the heel via the Achilles tendon. Several other, smaller muscles attach to the knee, the ankle, and via long tendons to the toes. Contents 1 Structure 2 Clinical significance 3 Society and culture 3.1 Training 4 History 4.1 Etymology 5 See also 6 References Structure This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. ( February 2014 ) The calf is composed of the muscles of the posterior compartment of the leg : The gastrocnemius and soleus ( composing the triceps surae muscle ) and the tibialis posterior. The sural nerve provides innervation. Clinical significance Medical conditions that result in calf swelling among other symptoms include deep vein thrombosis compartment syndrome, Achilles tendon rupture, and varicose veins. Idiopathic leg cramps are common and typically affect the calf muscles at night. Edema also is common and in many cases idiopathic. In a small study of factory workers in good health, wearing compression garments helped to reduce edema and the pain associated with edema. A small study of runners found that wearing knee - high compression stockings while running significantly improved performance. The circumference of the calf has been used to estimate selected health risks. In Spain, a study of 22,000 persons 65 or older found that a smaller calf circumference was associated with a higher risk of undernutrition. In France, a study of 6265 persons 65 or older found an inverse correlation between calf circumference and carotid plaques. Calf augmentation and restoration is available, using a range of prosthesis devices and surgical techniques. Society and culture Training Further information : Calf raises Calf raises are a method of exercising the gastrocnemius, tibialis posterior and soleus muscles of the lower leg. The movement performed is plantar flexion, a.k.a. ankle extension. History Etymology Calf and calf of the leg are documented in use in Middle English, respectively, circa 1350 and 1425. Historically, the absence of calf, meaning a lower leg without a prominent calf muscle, was regarded by some authors as a sign of inferiority : it is well known that monkeys have no calves, and still less do they exist among the lower orders of mammals. See also Calf ( disambiguation ) Calf raises Shin Sciatica References Jump up ^ David Simel ; Drummond Rennie ; Robert Hayward ; Sheri A Keitz ( 2008 ). The rational clinical examination : Evidence - based clinical diagnosis. McGraw - Hill Professional. p. 500. ISBN 0 - 07 - 159030 - 7. page 229 Jump up ^ Drey IA, Baruch H ( February 2008 ). `` Acute compartment syndrome of the calf presenting after prolonged decubitus position ''. Orthopedics. 31 ( 2 ) : 184. PMID 19292184. doi : 10.3928 / 01477447 - 20080201 - 08. Jump up ^ Hartgens F, Hoogeveen AR, Brink PR ( August 2008 ). `` ( Athletes with exercise - related pain at the medial side of the lower leg ) ''. Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde ( in Dutch and Flemish ). 152 ( 33 ) : 1839 -- 43. PMID 18783163. CS1 maint : Unrecognized language ( link ) Jump up ^ Young G ( 2009 ). `` Leg cramps ''. Clinical Evidence. 2009. PMC 2907778. PMID 19445755. Jump up ^ Blättler W, Kreis N, Lun B, Winiger J, Amsler F ( 2008 ). `` Leg symptoms of healthy people and their treatment with compression hosiery ''. Phlebology / Venous Forum of the Royal Society of Medicine. 23 ( 5 ) : 214 -- 21. PMID 18806203. doi : 10.1258 / phleb. 2008.008014. Jump up ^ Kemmler W, von Stengel S, Köckritz C, Mayhew J, Wassermann A, Zapf J ( January 2009 ). `` Effect of compression stockings on running performance in men runners ''. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research / National Strength & Conditioning Association. 23 ( 1 ) : 101 -- 5. PMID 19057400. doi : 10.1519 / JSC. 0b013e31818eaef3. Jump up ^ Cuervo M, Ansorena D, García A, González Martínez MA, Astiasarán I, Martínez JA ( 2009 ). `` ( Assessment of calf circumference as an indicator of the risk for hyponutrition in the elderly ) ''. Nutrición Hospitalaria : Organo Oficial De La Sociedad Española De Nutrición Parenteral Y Enteral ( in Spanish ). 24 ( 1 ) : 63 -- 7. PMID 19266115. Jump up ^ Debette S, Leone N, Courbon D, Gariépy J, Tzourio C, Dartigues JF, Ritchie K, Alpérovitch A, Ducimetière P, Amouyel P, Zureik M ( November 2008 ). `` Calf circumference is inversely associated with carotid plaques ''. Stroke ; a Journal of Cerebral Circulation. 39 ( 11 ) : 2958 -- 65. PMID 18703804. doi : 10.1161 / STROKEAHA. 108.520106. Jump up ^ Hans Kurath ( 1959 ). Middle English dictionary. University of Michigan Press. p. 128. ISBN 0 - 472 - 01031 - X. page 20 Jump up ^ Maria Montessori ( 1913 ). Pedagogical anthropology. Frederic Taber Cooper. Frederick A. Stokes Company. p. 508. page 311 Human regional anatomy Head Ear Face Cheek Chin Eye Mouth Nose Forehead Jaw Occiput Scalp Temple Neck Adam 's apple Throat Trunk Abdomen Waist Midriff Navel Back Thorax Breast Pelvis Sex organs Limbs Arm Shoulder Axilla Brachium Elbow Forearm Wrist Hand Finger Thumb Index Middle Ring Little Leg Buttocks Hip Thigh Knee Calf Foot Ankle Heel Sole Toe Other Écorché General anatomy : systems and organs, regional anatomy, planes and lines, superficial axial anatomy, superficial anatomy of limbs Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Calf_(leg)&oldid=798388775 '' Categories : Lower limb anatomy Calf ( anatomy ) Hidden categories : CS1 maint : Unrecognized language CS1 Dutch - language sources ( nl ) CS1 Spanish - language sources ( es ) Articles to be expanded from February 2014 All articles to be expanded Articles using small message boxes Talk Contents About Wikipedia Български Brezhoneg Català Čeština ChiShona ދިވެހިބަސް Español Esperanto Euskara Français Galego Ido Bahasa Indonesia Basa Jawa Kaszëbsczi Latina Bahasa Melayu Nederlands नेपाली नेपाल भाषा Occitan Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча پښتو Polski Português Română Svenska Tagalog Türkçe ئۇيغۇرچە / Uyghurche Edit links This page was last edited on 1 September 2017, at 16 : 50. 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Question: where is the calf of the leg located
Answer: the back portion of the lower leg