The large muscle that forms the bulk of the calf on the back of the leg, responsible for pointing the foot downward and bending the knee.
From Greek 'gastro-' (stomach) and 'kneme' (leg), named by ancient anatomists who thought the muscle bulge resembled a stomach. The term has been used in medical texts since ancient times.
This is the muscle that lets you stand on your tiptoes and do a jump—it's incredibly powerful, and interestingly, it's divided into two heads that come together, creating a natural seam you can sometimes see through the skin.
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