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Soleus

Lower legs

Origin
Upper fibula and the soleal line of the tibia
Insertion
Calcaneus via the Achilles tendon
Action
Plantarflexes the ankle

The flat calf muscle under the gastrocnemius. It does most of the work in seated calf raises, where the bent knee slackens the gastrocnemius.

Main exercises

Also works in

Soleus anatomy page →

Exercises that train the soleus

Nearby muscles