The flexor digiti minimi brevis (flexor brevis minimi digiti, flexor digiti quinti brevis) lies under the
metatarsal
The metatarsal bones or metatarsus (: metatarsi) are a group of five long bones in the midfoot, located between the tarsal bones (which form the heel and the ankle) and the phalanges ( toes). Lacking individual names, the metatarsal bones are ...
bone on the little toe, and resembles one of the
interossei
{{short description, Muscles between certain bones
Interossei refer to muscles between certain bones. There are many interossei in a human body. Specific interossei include:
On the hands
* Dorsal interossei muscles of the hand
* Palmar interosse ...
.
It arises from the base of the
fifth metatarsal bone
The fifth metatarsal bone is a long bone in the foot, and is palpable along the distal outer edges of the feet. It is the second smallest of the five metatarsal bones. The fifth metatarsal is analogous to the fifth metacarpal bone in the hand.
As ...
, and from the sheath of the
fibularis longus
In human anatomy, the fibularis longus (also known as peroneus longus) is a superficial muscle in the lateral compartment of the leg. It acts to tilt the sole of the foot away from the midline of the body ( eversion) and to extend the foot downwa ...
; its tendon is inserted into the lateral side of the base of the first
phalanx
The phalanx (: phalanxes or phalanges) was a rectangular mass military formation, usually composed entirely of heavy infantry armed with spears, pikes, sarissas, or similar polearms tightly packed together. The term is particularly used t ...
of the fifth toe.
Occasionally a few of the deeper fibers are inserted into the lateral part of the distal half of the fifth metatarsal bone; these are described by some as a distinct muscle, the opponens digiti quinti.
References
.
Foot muscles
Muscles of the lower limb
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