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Medical Definition of Intrinsic muscles of foot
1. Muscles fully contained (origin, belly, insertion) in the foot and toes. These muscles are arranged in four layers and all are innervated by the plantar branches of the tibial nerve. Although they may be capable of producing the actions described under their individual entries, as a group the primary function of the intrinsic muscles of the foot is to provide dynamic support of the longitudinal arch of the foot, resisting the forces which act momentarily to spread the arch during walking and running. (05 Mar 2000)