Meaning & use
gastrocnemius
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountabletechnicalmedicalbiology
The large muscle at the back of the lower leg that forms the bulk of the calf.
Grammar: Countable; the plural is gastrocnemii. Often used in the phrase 'the gastrocnemius'.
Patterns
- the gastrocnemius muscle
- gastrocnemius and soleus
The gastrocnemius is the muscle you feel when you stand on your toes.
She pulled her gastrocnemius while sprinting and had to rest for a week.
The doctor examined the gastrocnemius and found a small tear.
Word forms
| plural | gastrocnemii |
|---|
Common combinations
- gastrocnemius muscle
- The gastrocnemius muscle helps you push off the ground when you walk or run.
- injured gastrocnemius
- An injured gastrocnemius can make it painful to climb stairs.
- gastrocnemius strain
- A gastrocnemius strain is common in tennis players.
- stretch the gastrocnemius
- Runners should stretch the gastrocnemius to avoid tightness.
Synonyms and how they differ
- calf muscle
- Everyday term for the same muscle; use it in general conversation instead of the technical word.
Word family
- gastrocnemial adjective
- Relating to the gastrocnemius muscle.
Commonly confused: gastrocnemius or gastronemius? gastrocnemius or soleus?
gastrocnemius vs gastronemius
A common misspelling; the correct spelling is 'gastrocnemius' with a 'c' after 'gastro'.
gastrocnemius vs soleus
Another calf muscle, lying underneath the gastrocnemius; it is a different muscle.
Practice
Which sentence uses the word correctly?
Choose one answer.
The gastrocnemius is the large muscle at the back of the lower leg, forming the calf. It is not a bone, nerve, or joint.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “gastrocnemius”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.