Arches Of Foot

Question 1

Functions

Answer 1

• Add w.bearing capabilities and resilience to foot and acts as shock absorbers in standing/propulsive movement
• Enables foot to adapt to different terrains and weight changes
• When walking weight transfers from calcaneum down lat border of foot, medially to head MTs 2-5 and sesamoids of great toe
  
  • > med long= calcaneum to ses bones of hallux
  • > lat long= calcaneum to head of MT5
  • > transverse= between heads of MTs
• Bony configuration, strong ligts and muscle tone maintain arches

Question 2

Medial Longitudinal Arch

-greatest curvature and flexibility

Answer 2

Bones involved- calcaneum, navicular, med cuneiform, MT1, ses bones
-cuneiform acts as ‘keystone’, wedge shape wider above than below, preventing things falling through

Supporting ligts- ‘spring’ (plantar calcaneonavicular), short/long plantar, plantar aponeurosis acts as ligt supporting the arch

Supporting muscles- FHL, abductor hallucis, med part of FDB, tibialis ant/post

Question 3

Lateral Longitudinal Arch

-flatter and more rigid

Answer 3

Bones involved- calcaneum, cuboid, MT5
-talus and cuboid act as keystones

Supporting ligts- short/long plantar, spring (plantar calcaneonavicular)

Supporting muscles- peroneus longus/brevis/tertius (assists from above), FDL (toes 4,5), FDB (lat 1/2), abductor digiti minimi

Question 4

Transverse Arches

Answer 4

Bones involved- navicular, cuboid

                          - cuneiforms, cuboid
                          - MTs - cuneiforms and cuboid are keystones

Supporting ligts- interosseous, plantar, dorsal, collateral in MTP/IP joints

Supporting muscles- transverse head of adductor hallucis, peroneous longus, lumbricals, interossei