noun
gastrocnemius
gas-trok-NEE-mee-us
Gastrocnemius (noun) means the muscle at the back of the calf, which connects to the Achilles tendon at the heel. Example: “He strained his gastrocnemius while sprinting for the bus.”
noun
1
technical The muscle at the back of the calf, which connects to the Achilles tendon at the heel.
"He strained his gastrocnemius while sprinting for the bus."
"Calf raises work the gastrocnemius."
"The physiotherapist massaged her gastrocnemius to ease the tightness."
How to use gastrocnemius
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe main muscle at the back of your calf.
When to use it
It is an anatomical term, more common in medical and sporting settings than in everyday speech.
Common pairings
strain the gastrocnemius
gastrocnemius muscle
tight gastrocnemius
gastrocnemius tear
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He strained his _____ while sprinting for the bus.
Etymology
The word was borrowed in the 1670s from New Latin, which took it from the Ancient Greek gastroknēmía, meaning calf of the leg. The Greek combines gastḗr, meaning belly, with knḗmē, meaning leg.
Rhymes for gastrocnemius
See all rhymes for gastrocnemius →Frequently asked questions
Where is the gastrocnemius muscle?
It is the muscle at the back of the calf. It attaches to the Achilles tendon at the heel.
What is the plural of gastrocnemius?
The plural is gastrocnemii.
Is there a short form of gastrocnemius?
Yes. People often shorten it to gastroc, especially in sport and physiotherapy.
What is the meaning of gastrocnemius?
"gastrocnemius" (noun) means the muscle at the back of the calf, which connects to the Achilles tendon at the heel.
