CHAP. XXXIX. Of the Muscles moving the Foot.
THe Muscles of the Leg moving the Foot are absolutely nine, three in the fore-part and six in the hind. Two of the three fore-muscles bend the foot, when they joyntly perform their action, but when severally, each draws it to his side; the third chiefly extends the toes, for otherwhiles it seems by its slenderer and longer tendon (which exceeds not that bone of the Pedium, which sustains the little toe) to help also to bend the foot.
The first is called Peronaeus, because it descends alongst the bone Perone. The other the Tibiaeus anticus, for that it descends along the Os Tibiae, or bone of the leg. The third from its action is cal∣led the Digitum-tensor, or Toe-stretcher. For their original; the Peronaeus which seems two have two heads, descends from the upper appendix of the Perone, or Shin-bone by its first head, but by the other from the middle of the same bone from the foreside into the hind, as the superficies shews which passes between the fore and outward line of the said bone; but after it arrives at the lower and hinder appendix of the same bone, behind the outer ankle, it produces two tendons, which by the guidance of the Ligaments as well proper, as common, go, the thicker under the sole of the foot, ending in the Die-bone, and that bone of the Pedium which sustains the great toe; the lesser goes on the outside to the Die-bone; and the last and least bone of the Pedium which bears up the little toe, sometimes a slender portion thereof is produced even to the side of the lit∣tle toe, extending and drawing it from the rest. The Tibiaeus anticus or fore-leg muscle proceed∣ing from the upper and outer appendix of the leg-bone descends above the surface of the same bone, which is between the fore and outer-line to which it adheres, as also to that surface even to the midst, from which place it produces one tendon, which descending on the fore and low∣est part, ends on the outside into two of the nameless bones, that is, into the first which is the thicker, and into the middlemost; but besides, by a slender portion thereof, it is extended into the first and greater bone of the Pedium, so to extend the great toe, drawing it inwards to the other foot. And this muscle with the precedent bends the foot, if they both perform their part at once; but if severally, each draws the foot towards his side. The third which is the Digitum-tensor, or Toe-stretcher, is twofold; the one takes its original from the top of the leg, and run∣ning alongst the Shin-bone, and passing under the Ring, carries it self into the foot, in which it ends by five tendons going to all the joynts of the toes, and by a sixth at that bone of the Pedium which sustains the little toe, whereby (as we formerly said) it helps the bending of the foot. The other descends into the midst of the Shin-bone, and somewhat fastned thereto, by one tendon pas∣sing under the ring it goes to the great toe. But you must note, that all these tendons have ner∣vous, ligamentous, and fleshy fibers so separated from each other, that they can equally alone per∣form their function, as if they were more distinct muscles. And we must think the same of the rest which have distinct tendons presently from their fleshy part.
The six hind-muscles follow: of which the two first are called the Gemelli, or twins, by reason of the similitude of their thickness, original, insertion, and action. The third is called the Plantaris, because it is spent upon the sole of the foot, as the Palmaris upon the palm of the hand. The fourth is termed the Soleus, or sole-muscle by reason of the resemblance it hath to the fish of that name. The fift the Tibiaeus p••sticus, or hind-leg muscle, which descends alongst the back-part of the leg-bone. The sixth and last the Digitum-flexor, or Toe-bender, equivalent to the deep muscle of the hand. Some make but one muscle of this, and the Tibiaeus posticus, which produces three tendons; others had rather make three, as thus, that one should be the Tibiaeus, the other the bender of four toes, the third the bender of the great toe.
Now for the two Gemelli, or twins, the one is internal, the other external; the internal passes forth from the root of the inner Condyle of the thigh; but the external from the external Con∣dyle; and from this their original presently becoming fleshy, especially on the outside, they meet together a little after in their fleshy parts, and with the Soleus they make the thick and great ten∣don at the midst of the leg, which from thence is inserted into the back-part of the heel; in this very tendon, breed painful kibes. The action thereof is, to help our going by putting forth the foot, whilst it draws the heel towards its original.
The Plantaris the least and slenderest of them all, passes forth fleshy from the outward head of the leg-bone, and from thence the space of some four fingers bredth it ends in a strong and slender tendon, which it sends between the twin and sole muscles to the sole of the foot, there to produce