Gross Anatomy of the
Foot
By
SULAIMON, F.A (miss)
Cutaneous innervation of the foot
Bones of the foot
Contains 26 bones
Tarsal bones
Talus
• Has head, neck, body with
trochlea, posterior, and
lateral processes
• Articulates with fibula,
calcaneus, and navicular
• Has no muscular
attachments
• Head rests on lateral
projection of calcaneus-
sustentaculum tali
• Wider anteriorly making the
ankle more stable in
dorsiflexion
Calcaneus Tarsal bones
• Largest and strongest
bone
• Posterior prominence-
calcaneal tuberosity-
with medial, lateral,
and anterior tubercles
• Articulates with the
talus and cuboid
• Transmits body weight
from talus to ground
• Lateral projection-
sustentaculum tali-
supports talar head
Tarsal bones
• Navicular
• Flattened bone with inferomedial
tuberosity
• Located between talar head and
three cuneiform bones
• Cuboid
• Inferolateral groove for tendon
of peroneus longus
• Most lateral bone in distal row of
tarsals
• Cuneiform (3)
• Medial, intermediate and lateral
• Each articulates with navicular
posteriorly and base of related
metatarsal anteriorly
• Lateral articulates with cuboid
Bones of the foot
Metatarsals (5)
• Have base (proximal), body,
and head (distal)
• Bases articulate with
cuneiform and cuboid bones
• Head articulates with
proximal phalanges
• Medial and lateral sesamoid
bones on plantar surface of
first metatarsal in plantar
ligament
•Phalanges (14)
• Great toe (hallux) has two-
proximal and distal
• Other toes have three-
proximal, middle and distal
• Each consists of proximal
base, body, and distal head
Arches of the foot
• Tarsal and metatarsal bones
are arranged in longitudinal
and transverse arches
• Bony arches maintained by
• Interlocking bones
• Plantar ligaments
• Plantar aponeurosis
• Action of plantar muscles
• Functions
• Shock absorbers for body
weight
• Distribute body weight
• Make foot adaptable to
changes in surface
Longitudinal arch
• Longitudinal arch composed of medial and
lateral arches
• Medial longitudinal arch
• Higher arch than lateral
• Composed of calcaneus, talus, navicular, three
cuneiforms, three medial metatarsals
• Talar head is keystone
• Strengthened by
• Tibialis anterior tendon and attachments
• Fibularis longus tendon
• Lateral longitudinal arch
• Flatter than medial
• Rests on the ground when standing
• Composed of calcaneus, cuboid, and lateral two
metatarsals
Transverse arch
• Formed by cuboid,
cuneiforms, bases of
metatarsals
• Has pillars formed by
lateral and medial
longitudinal arches
• Maintained by fibularis
longus tendon
Mucsles of the dorsum of the foot
• 1st layer contains abductor hallucis,
abductor digiti minimi, flexor digitorum
Sole of the foot brevis, and planter digital nerves and
vessels.
• 2nd layer contains tendons of tibialis
•Four layers in the sole of the foot posterior, flexor digitorum longus, flexor
halluces longus, lumbricals, and quadratus
•Individual muscles of little importance as platae.
fine control of the toes is not required
• 3rd layer contains adductor halluces, flexor
•A neurovascular plane exists between the hallucis brevis, and flexor digiti minimi
first and second and third and fourth brevis.
layers
• 4th layer contains tendon of fibularis longus
and interosseous musles.
First layer of the sole
Second
layer
Third layer
Fourth layer
Intrinsic muscles of the foot
Arteries
veins
Nerves
Applied anatomy
• Hallux valgus
Due to the oblique course of extensor hallucis brevis which tend to
overpower the abductor hallucis
Applied anatomy
• Hammer toe
Applied anatomy
• Pes planus (flat foot)
Applied anatomy
• Club foot
