Each foot is made up of twenty-six bones which form the ankle, top and bottom of the foot, and toes. These bones are articularly specialized, allowing a wide range of flexibility, while being able to withstand the incredible amounts of stress placed upon them. It is estimated that each stride of an adult places 900 pounds per square inch on the bottom of the foot. Seven of these bones form the compact arrangement of the ankle, or tarsus, and the heel. These tarsal bones include the navicular, the three cuneiform, the cuboid, the talus, and the calcaneus bones.
These tarsal bones are arranged generally in two rows, the proximal and distal. The distal tarsals articulate with the five metatarsals. The long metatarsals form the broad, long structure of the foot, as seen in the superior view. These, in turn, articulate with the proximal phalanges. The proximal phalanges join with the middle phalanges, which articulate with the end sections of the toes, called distalphalanges. The large toe is the exception, as it lacks a middle phalanx. Ligaments connect the bones of the foot together and allow the muscles of the calf to remotely influence these bones. Research Bones of the Foot
In human anatomy, the calcaneum or calcaneus bone, is the largest and strongest of the tarsal bones. It projects backwards beyond the bones of the leg to provide a lever for the muscles of the calf, and forms the lower, outer part of the ankle and extends downward to form the heel. It is responsible for bearing much of the immediate stress placed upon the foot during walking. Research Calcaneum
The tarsal bones are seven bones forming the compact arrangement of the ankle, or tarsus, and the heel. These tarsal bones include the navicular, the three cuneiform, the cuboid, the talus, and the calcaneus bones. These tarsal bones are arranged generally in two rows, the proximal and distal. The distal tarsals articulate with the five metatarsals. Research Tarsal Bones
The tibialis anterior (tibialis anticus) is a thick and fleshy muscle that, as the name implies, sits on the front of the tibia, the main lower leg bone. It originates from the upper half of the tibia, just below the knee and tapers into a long, prominenttendon about two-thirds of the way down the leg. The long tendon goes through the ankle to insert in the bottom of the inside arch of the foot (in the tarsal bones). The tibialis anterior is innervated by deep branches of the peroneal nerves and supplied by the peroneal artery. This muscle controls the descent of the foot during walking after the heel strikes the ground. Research Tibialis Anterior
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Bones of the Foot
