Main parts and surfaces of the foot
The anatomy of the foot implies a strict division into surfaces and parts. In clinical and topographical anatomy, two main surfaces are distinguished:
- Plantar surface — Planta.
- Dorsal surface of the foot — Dorsum pedis.
The osseous framework includes three consecutive parts:
- Tarsus — Tarsus.
- Metatarsus — Metatarsus.
- Phalanges of the toes — Digiti pedis.
Each toe of the foot has its own Latin nomenclature name:
- 1st toe (great toe) — Hallux or Digitus primus.
- 2nd toe — Digitus secundus.
- 3rd toe — Digitus tertius.
- 4th toe — Digitus quartus.
- 5th toe (little toe) — Digitus minimus or Digitus quintus.
Tarsal bones (Ossa tarsi)
The tarsus includes 7 spongy bones, which for convenience of study are divided into two rows: proximal (closest to the leg) and distal.
Proximal row consists of only two, but the largest bones:
- Talus — Talus. Its upper part forms a special trochlea (Trochlea tali). This trochlea has three articular surfaces necessary for a movable connection with the bones of the leg.
- Calcaneus — Calcaneus. This is a massive bone, the posterior part of which forms a powerful calcaneal tuberosity (Tuber calcanei).
Distal row includes five bones:
- Cuboid bone (Os cuboideum) — located anterior to the calcaneus.
- Navicular bone (Os naviculare) — located anterior to the talus.
- Three cuneiform bones (Ossa cuneiformia) — lie anterior to the navicular bone. These include:
- Medial cuneiform bone (Os cuneiforme mediale) — projects at the level of the 1st metatarsal bone.
- Intermediate cuneiform bone (Os cuneiforme intermedium) — located at the level of the 2nd metatarsal bone.
- Lateral cuneiform bone (Os cuneiforme laterale) — located at the level of the 3rd metatarsal bone.
Metatarsal bones (Ossa metatarsi I–V)
The metatarsal bones are similar to each other in shape, size, and radial arrangement. In their internal structure, they are completely analogous to the metacarpal bones of the hand.
Each of the five metatarsal bones has a central part (shaft) and two ends:
- Base — Basis ossis metatarsi. This is the proximal end of the bone.
- Body — Corpus ossis metatarsi. In cross-section, it has a triangular shape. Important anatomical feature: the dorsal surface of the body is more convex, while the plantar surfaces (medial and lateral) are somewhat concave.
- Head — Caput ossis metatarsi. This is the distal end of the metatarsal bone.
Phalanges of the toes (Ossa digitorum, Phalanges)
The bones of the toes are represented by phalanges. Their number is strictly defined:
- 2nd–5th toes have three phalanges each: proximal (Phalanx proximalis), middle (Phalanx media), and distal (Phalanx distalis).
- 1st toe (hallux) is structured differently: it consists of only two phalanges (proximal and distal).
The anatomical structure of each individual phalanx includes:
- Base — Basis phalangis.
- Body — Corpus phalangis. It is bilateral: the dorsal surface is slightly convex, and the plantar surface is slightly concave.
- Head — Caput phalangis.
The distal phalanges have a special feature: rough tuberosities (Tuberositas phalangis distalis) are located on their heads.
Briefly: answers to topical questions
Which bones does the navicular bone of the foot articulate with?
The navicular bone of the foot articulates with the talus and the three cuneiform bones.
- Talus (Talus) — located posterior to the navicular bone, forming the talonavicular joint.
- Three cuneiform bones (Ossa cuneiformia) — located anterior to the navicular bone, forming the cuneonavicular joint.
Which muscles and tendons attach to the calcaneal tuberosity?
The Achilles tendon attaches to the calcaneal tuberosity. In the area of its attachment, there is the calcaneal synovial bursa (bursa tendinis calcanei).
Which metatarsal bones do the medial, intermediate, and lateral cuneiform bones articulate with?
The three cuneiform bones articulate with the first three metatarsal bones, forming the tarsometatarsal joints.
- Medial cuneiform bone (Os cuneiforme mediale) — articulates with the 1st metatarsal bone.
- Intermediate cuneiform bone (Os cuneiforme intermedium) — articulates with the 2nd metatarsal bone.
- Lateral cuneiform bone (Os cuneiforme laterale) — articulates with the 3rd metatarsal bone.
These three joints have separate isolated joint capsules.
What longitudinal and transverse arches do the bones of the foot form?
The bones of the foot form one longitudinal and two transverse arches. The longitudinal arch consists of two parts:
- Medial part — performs a spring (shock-absorbing) function, formed by the talus, navicular, three cuneiform, and I–III metatarsal bones.
- Lateral part — formed by the calcaneus, cuboid, and IV–V metatarsal bones.
The detailed bone composition of the two transverse arches is not specified in the provided materials.
To memorize the topography of the tarsus (from the medial to the lateral border): posterior row — the talus sits above the calcaneus; anterior to the talus lies the navicular bone, followed by the three cuneiform bones (I–III). The cuboid bone lies "isolated" anterior to the calcaneus.
Class and exam questions
How many bones are in the tarsus and into which rows are they divided?
There are 7 spongy bones in the tarsus. They are divided into the proximal row (talus and calcaneus) and the distal row (cuboid, navicular, and three cuneiforms).
How does the first toe (hallux) differ from the others?
The first (great) toe has only two phalanges — proximal and distal. The remaining toes (from the second to the fifth) consist of three phalanges.
What is the cross-sectional shape of the body of a metatarsal bone?
In cross-section, the body of a metatarsal bone has a triangular shape. Herein, the dorsal surface of the bone is convex, while the plantar surfaces (medial and lateral) are slightly concave.
Where are the tuberosities located on the phalanges of the toes?
Tuberosities (Tuberositas phalangis distalis) are located exclusively on the distal phalanges, in the region of their heads.
What else to study on this topic
- Structure of the trochlea of the talus and its articular surfaces
- Anatomical features of the calcaneal tuberosity
- Projection of the cuneiform bones onto the metatarsal rays
- Structure and functions of the tuberosities of the distal phalanges
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