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gastrocnemius

Syllabification: (gas·troc·ne·mi·us)

Pronunciation: /ˌgastrō(k)ˈnēmēəs/

(also gastrocnemius muscle)

Definition of gastrocnemius

noun (plural gastrocnemii /-mēˌī/)

Anatomy

the chief muscle of the calf of the leg, which flexes the knee and foot. It runs to the Achilles tendon from two heads attached to the femur.

Origin:

late 17th century: modern Latin, from Greek gastroknēmia 'calf of the leg', from gastēr, gastr- 'stomach' + knēmē 'leg' (from the bulging shape of the calf)