Abductor Hallucis

Origin

The abductor hallucis muscle originates from the:

- medial process of the calcaneal tuberosity;

- flexor retinaculum of foot;

- plantar aponeurosis;

- adjacent intermuscular septum.

Insertion

The fibers of the abductor hallucis muscle travel anteriorly and insert onto the medial aspect of the base of the proximal phalanx of the great toe.

Key Features & Anatomical Relations

The abductor hallucis muscle is located in the first layer of muscles that are found in the plantar part of the foot. It is a short, fusiform type of skeletal muscle that contributes to the formation of the medial margin of the foot.

It is located:

- superficial (inferior) to the tendons of the flexor digitorum longus and flexor hallucis longus muscles, the medial plantar vessels, and the medial plantar nerve;

- medial to the plantar aponeurosis and the flexor digitorum brevis muscle.

Actions & Testing

The abductor hallucis muscle abducts the proximal phalanx of great toe (i.e., draws it away from the longitudinal axial line of the second toe) at its metatarsophalangeal joint. It can be tested by abducting the great toe at its metatarsophalangeal joint against resistance (Standring, 2016).

References

Standring, S. (2016) Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. Gray's Anatomy Series 41st edn.: Elsevier Limited.