SECOND SECTION · THIRD CHAPTER · THIRD SUBSECTION · Sixth Article
Sixth Article
It describes the muscles that move the ankle joint.
O dear one! It should be known that the scholars of anatomy have said as follows: The muscles
that move the ankle joint, some of them lift the foot upwards. Some
of them, on the other hand, lower it downwards.
Among those that lift the foot, there is a large muscle which is placed at the front of the inner side of the foot,
originating from the outer part of the tip of the foot, and, slanting over the calf,
it proceeds towards the side of the big toe. It attaches to a place near the base of the big toe and
lifts the foot. Another muscle, also originating from the front, has taken a tendon from it.
It attaches to a place near the base of the little toe and lifts the foot.
Especially when the first muscle acts in harmony with this one, the two together
lift the foot upwards. A pair of muscles that pull the foot downwards originate from the head of the thigh,
then unite, slant towards the back of the calf, and are of a fleshy structure.
A large tendon arises from them and attaches to the heel bone, which is called the heel tendon.
Thus, the aforementioned tendon pulls, as described, obliquely from the outer side of the heel.
So that the foot can press on the ground.
A muscle has assisted this, which is violet (eggplant) in color. It originates from the outer tip, descends on its own without attaching to the fleshy tendon, and joins above the attachment point of the first muscle at the back of the heel.
If either of these two muscles or their tendons is damaged, the foot becomes lame.
A muscle with two tendons also originates from the inner part of the tip of the heel, goes all the way down, and splits into two, so that one of the two muscles joins the lowest part of the ankle from the big toe.
This muscle thus preserves the foot and pulls it down.
The second muscle passes the first and enters the first joint of the big toe, opening it inward at an angle.
A muscle originating from the outer tip of the thigh joins one of these two muscles.
Then, when it passes into the inside of the calf, it again goes separately from it (and passing it as well), heads towards the lowest tendon of the foot, and, like the muscle that spreads to the inner side of the foot,
it also spreads completely under the foot and envelops it. Thus, the benefits found in the palm are also found in the foot. Let it be known that there are many wisdoms in these crafts, and let lessons be taken from the power of the Real (al-Ḥaqq). Let it be said: “We declare the Wise Creator free from all deficiency.” May Allah, exalted is He, be declared free from every fault and deficiency. May He be described with every exaltation and perfection. May His greatness be revered.