Muscle Name: flexor digitorum longus

AKA:  

Abbreviation: FDL

Spinal Nerve Roots:
    L5
    S1
Plexus:
    lumbosacral plexus

Named Nerves:
    tibial nerve

    sciatic nerve

Proximal Attachment:  Posterior surface of the tibia.

Distal Attachment:  Base of the distal phalanges of digits 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Action: Flexes the toes.

Needle Insertion: Distal to the midpoint or into the proximal third of the tibial bone  and directly posterior to the tibia.

Activation for EMG:  Have the patient flex their toes, wihtout flexing the ankle.

Pitfalls: If the needle is too superfical the soleus may be sampled while inserting too deeply may lead to the tibialis posterior being sampled.

Notes: