In humans and some other mammals, the
soleus is a powerful
muscle in the back part of the lower
leg (the
calf). It runs from just below the
knee to the
heel, and is involved in standing and walking. It is closely connected to the
gastrocnemius muscle and some anatomists consider them to be a single muscle, the
triceps surae. Its name is derived from the Latin word "solea", meaning "
sandal".