Muscle · Foot

Extensor hallucis brevis

Musculus extensor hallucis brevis

The most medial part of the short toe extensor on the top of the foot, separated off and given its own name because its tendon goes to the big toe. It shares its origin on the front of the heel bone with the rest of that muscle, then runs forward across the foot to insert directly into the base of the big toe's first bone — not into the long extensor tendon, which is what its three neighbours do. That direct bony attachment means it straightens the big toe at the knuckle joint on its own account, and its tendon can usually be seen running diagonally across the top of the foot when the toe is lifted.