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Tarsus

The tarsal bones are quite different from the carpal bones of the hand. They are designed to physiologically distribute the body's weight to the plantar surface of the foot, absorb the shockwaves, and, finally, precisely measure the projection of the body mass center.

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Bones of the foot. The plantar view Tarsal bones. The plantar view
Ossa tarsi in situ. The dorsal view.
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Bones of the foot. The plantar view Tarsal bones. The plantar view
Ossa tarsi in situ. The plantar view.
The list of terms: Tarsus
Metatarsus
Ossa digitorum pedis – Phalanges of toes
Talus – Ankle bone
Calcaneus – Heel bone
Os naviculare – Navicular bone
Os cuboideum – Cuboid bone
Os cuneiforme laterale – Lateral cuneiform
Os cuneiforme intermedium – Intermediate cuneiform
Os cuneiforme mediale – Medial cuneiform

Talus


In contrast with the carpal bones, in the foot, there is only one bone directly articulating with the proximal extremity skeleton – only the talus articulates with the tibia & fibulatibia & fibula. The body weight pressure is distributed between the dorsally displaced tuber calcanei and – through the chain of other tarsal bones – to the metatarsal bones.

Icon of crossfade image The top view of the talus in situ et ex situ
The superior aspect of the bones of the foot and the talus The top view of the talus with the anatomical terminology comments
The right talus bone in situ & ex situ. The top view.
The main parts of the talus are the head (caput), neck (collum), and the body (corpus) that includes the large trochlea and two processes (lateral & posterior). The lateral process of the talus is the main gross asymmetrical structure that helps to distinguish the right talus from the left one.
The list of terms: Caput tali – Head of talus
Collum tali – Neck of talus
Corpus tali – Body of talus
Trochlea tali
Processus lateralis tali – Lateral process of talus
Processus posterior tali – Posterior process of talus

Icon of crossfade image The topography of the talus
The topography of the right ankle bone The back view of the ankle bone with the anatomical terminology
The right talus bone in situ & ex situ. The top posterior view.
Click the image to see the bones directly contacting the talus – the concave surface of the navicular bone and three separate articulatory facets on the calcaneus's top surface.
The list of terms: Trochlea tali
Facies malleolaris medialis – Medial malleolar surface
Facies superior – Superior surface
Facies malleolaris lateralis – Lateral malleolar surface
Processus posterior tali – Posterior process of talus
Tuberculum mediale – Medial tubercle
Tuberculum laterale – Lateral tubercle
Sulcus tendinis m. flexoris hallucis longi – Groove for the tendon of flexor hallucis longus muscle
Os naviculare – Navicular bone
Calcaneus – Heel bone
Facies articularis talaris anterior – Anterior facet for the talus
Facies articularis talaris media – Middle facet for the talus
Facies articularis talaris posterior – Posterior facet for the talus
Sustentaculum tali

Icon of crossfade image The bottom view of the ankle bone
An inferior aspect of the talus bone The anatomical terminology for the right ankle bone. The bottom view
The right talus in situ & ex situ. The bottom view.
Please note that in contrast with the three separate articular facets on the calcaneus's top surface, the talus's congruent anterior and middle articular facets are usually fused with the head of the talus.
The list of terms: Caput tali – Head of talus
Facies articular navicularis – Navicular articular surface
Facies articulars calcanea anterior – Anterior calcanean facet
Facies articularis calcanea media – Middle calcanean facet
Facies articularis calcanea posterior – Posterior calcanean facet
Sulcus tali – Sulcus of talus
Sulcus tendinis musculi flexoris hallucis longi – Groove for the tendon of m. flexor hallucis longus

Calcaneus


Icon of crossfade image The medial view of the heel bone in situ et ex situ
The medial aspect of the calcaneus The right heel bone's medial view with the anatomical terminology
The medial aspect of the righ heel bone in situ & ex situ.
The most prominent feature seen from the medial aspect of the heel bone is the sustentaculum tali. The word sustentaculum derives from the Latin and means support or sustenance. That term seems to be appropriate: the pressure transmitted through the talus (i.e., the weight of the whole body) is, to a great extent, directed toward that medial prolongation of the heel bone.
The list of terms: Tuber calcanei
Processus lateralis tuberis calcanei – Lateral process of calcaneus
Processus medialis tuberis calcanei – Medial process of calcaneus
Tuberculum calcanei – Calcaneal tubercle
Sustentaculum tali
Sulcus tendinis m. flexoris hallucis longi – Groove for the tendon of m. flexor hallucis longus
Facies articularis cuboidea – Cuboid articular surface
Facies articularis talaris anterior – Anterior facet for the talus
Facies articularis talaris media – Middle facet for the talus
Facies articularis talaris posterior – Posterior facet for the talus

Icon of crossfade image The top view of the heel bone in situ et ex situ
The superior aspect of the calcaneus The top view of the heel bone with the latin terminology comments
The top view of the right heel bone in situ & ex situ.
You will find the three distinct articulatory facets for talus bone on the superior surface of the calcaneus. The lateral facet localizes on top of the sustentaculum.
The list of terms: Sustentaculum tali
Sulcus tendinis m. flexoris hallucis longi – Groove for the tendon of m. flexor hallucis longus
Facies articularis cuboidea – Cuboid articular surface
Facies articularis talaris anterior – Anterior facet for the talus
Facies articularis talaris media – Middle facet for the talus
Facies articularis talaris posterior – Posterior facet for the talus
Sulcus calcanei

Icon of crossfade image The lateral view to the foot bones
Sinus tarsi and the lateral view of the foot skeleton The bones of the foot. Lateral view.
The image above demonstrates the lateral aspect of the foot, showing a slight impression on the heel bone's lateral surface caused by the pressure from the tendon of the long peroneal muscle.
The list of terms: Sinus tarsi
Trochlea peronealis – Peroneal trochlea
Sulcus tendinis m. peronei longi – Groove for the tendon of the peroneus longus muscle

Os Naviculare & Os Cuboideum


Icon of crossfade image The foot bones split
Bones of the foot. The dorsal view The functional split of the foot skeleton. The dorsal view
The dorsal aspect of the foot skeleton.
Click an image to see the foot's functional split: the navicular bone transmit the pressure force from the talus to the cuneiform bones and further – to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd metatarsal bone. In contrast, the cuboid bone transmits the calcaneus's pressure force directly to the 4th and 5th metatarsal bones.
Icon of crossfade image The topography of the third metacarpal bone
Navicular and cuboid bones in multiple views. The navicular and cuboid bones with the anatomical terminology
Cuboid and Navicular bone. Multiple views. Note the complex spatial position of the cuboid bone.
The list of terms: Tuberositas ossis navicularis – Tuberositty of navicular bone
Processus calcaneus – Calcanean process
Tuberositas ossis cuboidei – Tuberosity of cuboid
Sulcus tendinis m. peronei longi – Groove for tendon of peroneus longus muscle

Os Cuneiforme Mediale, Intermedium & Laterale


Icon of crossfade image The topography of the cuneiform bones. The frontal view
The skeleton of the foot. The frontal view. The cuneiform bones in situ with the anatomical terminology
Cuneiform bones in situ. The frontal aspect.
Note the wedge-like shape of these bones (from Latin cuneus – wedge).
The list of terms: Os cuboideum – Cuboid bone
Os cuneiforme mediale – Medial cuneiform
Os cuneiforme intermedium – Intermeiate cuneiform
Os cuneiforme laterale – Lateral cuneiform

Icon of crossfade image The topography of the third metacarpal bone
The bones of the foot. Posterior oblieque view. The topography of the cuneiform bones with the anatomical terminology
Cuneiform bones in situ. The posterior aspect.
The list of terms: Os cuneiforme mediale – Medial cuneiform
Os cuneiforme intermedium – Intermeiate cuneiform
Os cuneiforme laterale – Lateral cuneiform

360° rotation of the bones of the foot.
First published: 15/Dec/2020
Last update: 20/Dec/2020