Lumbrical pedis muscles
| Musculi lumbricales pedis 1 to 4 |
|---|
|
| origin |
| Tendons of the 2nd – 5th Toe flexor digitorum longus muscle |
| approach |
| Dorsal aspect of the toes |
| function |
| Flexion of the metatarsophalangeal joints |
| Innervation |
| Medial plantar nerve, lateral plantar nerve |
The lumbricales pedis muscles ( Latin for "worm-shaped foot muscles") are four delicate skeletal muscles on the soles of the metatarsals . They arise from the tendons of the flexor digitorum longus muscle (in animals, the flexor digitorum profundus muscle ). They run on the inside of the second to fifth toes and - together with the corresponding tendon splits of the flexor digitorum longus muscle - start on the dorsal side of the first toe phalanx and on the extensor caps of the toe bones .
By flexing the metatarsophalangeal joints , the muscles play a role in fine motor control of the toes.