Arches of the foot

Question 1

What does the shape of the arches allow?

Answer 1

act like springs:

1. weight bearing (of body)
2. shock absorbing during locomotion
3. flexibility for walking & running

Question 2

Where are the 2 longitudinal arches in the foot formed?

Answer 2

medial & lateral arches

formed between tarsal bones & proximal end of the metatarsals

Question 3

What is the medial arch formed of?

Answer 3

calcaneus, talus, navicular, 3 cuneiforms, first 3 (medial) metatarsal bones

Question 4

What is the medial arch supported by in terms of muscles?

Answer 4

tibialis anterior, tibialis posterior, fibularis longus, flexor digitorum longus, flexor hallucis longus and intrinsic plantar foot muscles, (calcaneal tendon)

provide dynamic support

Question 5

What are the ligaments that support the medial arch?

Answer 5

short and long plantar ligaments, plantar calcaneonavicular ligament, (medial ligament of the ankle joint - ‘deltoid’ ligaments)

and plantar APONEUROSIS

Question 6

How do the bones support the medial longitudinal arch?

Answer 6

the shape of the bones of the arch

Question 7

Describe the lateral arch

Answer 7

flatter than medial longitudinal arch

lies on ground in standing position (lateral - flatter)

Question 8

Which bones form the lateral longitudinal arch?

Answer 8

calcaneus, cuboid, 4th & 5th metatarsal bones

Question 9

Which ligaments support the lateral longitudinal arch?

Answer 9

plantar ligaments (esp. long plantar, short plantar and plantar calcaneonavicular ligament)

Plantar APONEUROSIS

Question 10

Which muscles support the lateral longitudinal arch?

Answer 10

fibularis longus, flexor digitorum longus, flexor hallucis longus, intrinsic plantar foot muscles

Question 11

Where is the transverse arch located and which bones is it formed by?

Answer 11

in coronal plane of the foot

formed by metatarsal bases, cuboid and cuneiforms

Question 12

Which muscles support the transverse arch?

Answer 12

fibularis longus and tibialis posterior

Question 13

Which ligaments support the transverse arch?

Answer 13

plantar ligaments (long & short plantar, plantar calcaneonavicular), deep transverse metatarsal ligaments

plantar APONEUROSIS

Question 14

How many arches of the foot are there? What are they and what are they formed by?

Answer 14

2 longitudinal (lateral & medial)
1 anterior transverse arch
formed by tarsal & metatarsal bones - supported by ligaments & tendons in the foot