Soleal line

Prominent ridge on the posterior surface of the tibia

Soleal line
Bones of the right leg. Posterior surface. (Popliteal line visible at top center.)
Details
Identifiers
Latin	linea musculi solei
TA98	A02.5.06.015
TA2	1417
FMA	43773
Anatomical terms of bone [edit on Wikidata]

The soleal line, also known as the popliteal line (in older texts), is a prominent ridge on the posterior surface of the tibia. It is the site of many muscle origins and insertions, such as those of popliteus muscle, soleus muscle, flexor digitorum longus muscle, and tibialis posterior muscle.

Structure

The soleal line is a prominent ridge on the posterior surface of the tibia. It extends obliquely downward from the back part of the articular facet for the fibula to the medial border, at the junction of its upper and middle thirds.

Development

The soleal line becomes more prominent between childhood and adulthood.^[1] It is rarely seen in children between the ages of 6 and 8.^[1]

Function

The soleal line marks the lower limit of the insertion of the popliteus muscle.^[2] It is the attachment of the fascia covering this muscle. It is the origin of part of soleus muscle (along with a triangular area above it),^[3] flexor digitorum longus muscle, and tibialis posterior muscle.

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 258 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

^ ^a ^b Cunningham, Craig; Scheuer, Louise; Black, Sue (2016-01-01). "Chapter 12 - The Lower Limb". The Lower Limb. Academic Press. pp. 385–472. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-382106-5.00012-8. ISBN 978-0-12-382106-5.
^ Chaitow, Leon; DeLany, Judith (2011-01-01). "Chapter 13 - The knee". Clinical Application of Neuromuscular Techniques. Vol. 2 (2nd ed.). Churchill Livingstone. pp. 447–501. doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-06815-7.00013-9. ISBN 978-0-443-06815-7.
^ Woo, Eun Jin; Pak, Sunyoung (2013-04-01). "Degenerative joint diseases and enthesopathies in a Joseon Dynasty population from Korea". HOMO. 64 (2). Elsevier: 104–119. doi:10.1016/j.jchb.2013.02.001. ISSN 0018-442X. PMID 23477801 – via ScienceDirect.

External links

Description at uams.edu
Mysorekar V, Nandedkar A (1983). "The soleal line". Anat Rec. 206 (4): 447–51. doi:10.1002/ar.1092060410. PMID 6625203. S2CID 43473407.

Bones of the human leg

Femur

upper extremity	head fovea neck greater trochanter fossa lesser trochanter intertrochanteric line intertrochanteric crest quadrate tubercle
shaft	linea aspera upper medial: merges with intertrochanteric line upper intermediate: pectineal line upper lateral: gluteal tuberosity / third trochanter
lower extremity	adductor tubercle patellar surface epicondyles lateral medial condyles lateral medial intercondylar fossa

Tibia

upper extremity	Gerdy's tubercle condyles lateral medial intercondylar area
shaft	tuberosity soleal line
lower extremity	medial malleolus Anterior colliculus Posterior colliculus fibular notch

Fibula

lateral malleolus

Other

patella
- apex

Foot

Tarsus	calcaneus sustentaculum tali calcaneal tubercle talus navicular cuboid cuneiform medial intermediate lateral
Metatarsals	1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
Other	Phalanges