Joints of the foot

Question 1

Subtalar articulation

Answer 1

• Connects facies articularis calcanea posterior tali and facies articularis talaris posterior clacanei
• Short joint capsule attached to margins of joint surfaces
• JC is laterally reinforced by fibrous ligaments - ligamentum talocalcaneum laterale et mediale

Question 2

Talocalcaneonavicular articulation

Answer 2

• Between talus (facies articularis calcanea mediala et anterior) and calcaneus (facies talaris media et anterior), as well as between the proximal joint surface of the caput tali and os naviculare
• Reinforced by ligamentum calcaneonaviculare plantare

Question 3

Joint capsule of talocalcaneonavicular articulation

Answer 3

• Is very thin and common for all parts
• Reinforced by: lig. calcaneonaviculare plantare, lig. talonaviculare and lig. talocalcaneum interosseum

Question 4

Ligamentum calcaneonaviculare plantare

Answer 4

• From sustenaculum tali of calcaneus then below caput tali and onto the navicular tuberosity
• M. tibialis posterior grows onto the plantar side of this ligament
• Part of the ligament, the part which caput tali is attached to, is transformed into a fibrous cartilage, which is an integral part of the joint surface - fibrocartilago navicularis

Question 5

Ligamentum talonaviculare (dorsale)

Answer 5

• Located on the dorsal side
• Connects the neck of the talus to the dorsal surface of the navicular bone
• It is covered by the Extensor tendons.

Question 6

Ligamentum talocalcaneum interosseum

Answer 6

• It is a portion of the united capsules of the talocalcaneonavicular and the talocalcaneal joints
• Consists of two partially united layers of fibers, one belonging to the former and the other to the latter joint.
• It is attached, above, to the groove between the articular facets of the under surface of the talus; below, to a corresponding depression on the upper surface of the calcaneus.

Question 7

Ligamentum bifurcatum

Answer 7

• Consists of: ligamentum calcaneocuboideum and igamentum calcaneonaviculare
• It is commonly injured in “sprain-type” inversion injuries producing an avulsion fracture at the anterolateral process of the calcaneus

Question 8

Movement of lower tarsal joint (of the intertarsal articulations)

Answer 8

• Form a single mechanical unit
• Movement occurs along axis, passing through sinus tarsi
• Pronation and supination of the foot

Question 9

Calcaneocubiod articulation

Answer 9

• Between facies articularis cuboidea calcanei and proximal joint surface of os cuboideum
• Amphiarthrosis

Question 10

Joint capsule of calcaneocubiod articulation

Answer 10

• Thin and short
• Reinforced by a deeper sorter ligamentum calcanecubiodeum plantare and by a more superficial longer ligamentum plantare longum
• Joint slits between caput tali and os naviculare, and between clacaneus and os cuboideum - Chopart’s joint (transverse tarsal articulation)
• Exarticulation is done through this slit

Question 11

Ligamentum calcaneocuboideum plantare

Answer 11

• From dorsal horn of calcaneus to the dorsal side of os cuboideum

Question 12

Ligamentum plantare longum

Answer 12

• From tuber calcanei to bases of metatarsal bones

Question 13

Cuneonavicular articulation

Answer 13

• Between distal joint surface of the navicular bone and proximal joint surfaces of bases of all three ossa cuneiforma
• Amphiarthrosis
• Joint capsule is reinforced by lig. cuneonavicularia palmaria et dorsalia
• Common joint capsule is reinforced by lig. intercuneiformia dorsalia, plantaria and interossea

Question 14

Cuneocuboid articulation

Answer 14

• Between the medial side of os cuboideum and the lateral joint surface of os cuneiforme laterale
• Joint capsule reinforced by ligamenta cuneocuboidea (dorsale, plantare et interosseum)
• Amphiarthrosis

Question 15

Tarsometatarsal articulations

Answer 15

• Composite joint, sometimes called a Lisfranck’s joint
• Amphiarthrosis
• Consists of three parts:

1. Junction between os cuneiforme mediale and basis ossis metatarsi I
2. Junction between os cuneiforme intermedium et laterale and os metatarsi II et III
3. Junction between os cuboideum and os metatarsi IV et V

• Joint capsule of these joints often blends with joint capsules of previous joints
• Junctions reinforced by lig. tarsometatarsea dorsalia, plantaria et interossea

Question 16

Intermetatarsal articulations

Answer 16

• Between bases of adjoining metatarsal bones
• Reinforced by ligamenta metatarsea dorsalia, plantaria et interossea

Question 17

Metatarsophalangeal articulation

Answer 17

• Joint pits - metatarsal bones, completed by fibrocartilagines plantares
• In plate of big toe there are two constant sesamoid bones (medial and lateral)
• Joint capsules are independent for each finger and are reinforced by ligamenta collateralia
• On the plantar side the heads of metatarsi are connected by ligamentum metatarsale transversum profundum

Question 18

Movements of metatarsophalangeal articulation

Answer 18

• Flexion and extension
• Abduction and adduction
• Foot axis runs through the second toe

Question 19

Interphalangeal articulations of foot

Answer 19

• Joint pits excavated by fibrocartilagines plantare
• Joint capsule reinforced by ligamenta collateralie
• Trochlear joints - flexion/extension
• “knuckles”