Lower Limb Arches of the Foot

Question 1

What are the three arches of the foot?

Answer 1

Two longitudinal - medial and lateral.

One anterior transverse arch.

Question 2

What are the foot arches formed by?

Answer 2

Tarsal and metatarsal bones. Support by ligaments and tendons in the foot.

Question 3

What is the medial arch formed by?

Answer 3

Calcaneus, talus, navicular, three cuneiforms, and first three metatarsal bones.

Question 4

Which muscles support the medial arch?

Answer 4

Tibialis anterier and posterior, fibularis longus, flexor digitorum longus, flexos hallucis, and the intrinsic foot muscles.

Question 5

Which ligaments support the medial arch?

Answer 5

Plantar ligaments - particularly the long plantar, short plantar, and plantar calcaneonavicular ligament. And the medial ligament of the ankle joint.

Question 6

How do bones support the medial, lateral and transverse arches?

Answer 6

By their shape, wedge shaped in transverse arch.

Question 7

What supports the medial, lateral, and transverse arches?

Answer 7

Muscles, ligaments, bones, and plantar aponeurosis.

Question 8

How do the medial and lateral arches of the foot differ?

Answer 8

The medial arch is higher and the lateral arch is flatter, and lies on the ground in the standing position.

Question 9

What forms the lateral arch?

Answer 9

Calcaneus, cuboid, and 4th and 5th metatarsal bones.

Question 10

Which muscles support the lateral arch?

Answer 10

Fibularis longus, flexor digitorum longus, flexor hallucis, and the intrinsic foot muscles.

Question 11

Which ligaments support the lateral arch?

Answer 11

Plantar ligaments - particularly the long plantar, short plantarm and plantar calcaneonavicular ligaments.

Question 12

Where is the transverse arch located?

Answer 12

In the coronal plane of the foot.

Question 13

What forms the transverse arch?

Answer 13

The metatarsal bones, the cuboid, and the three cuneiform bones.

Question 14

Which muscles support the transverse arch?

Answer 14

Fibularis longus and tibialis posterior.

Question 15

Which ligaments support the transverse arch?

Answer 15

Plantar ligaments - particularly long plantar, short plantar, and plantar calcaneonavicular ligaments. Also deep transverse metatarsal ligaments.

Question 16

What is pes cavus?

Answer 16

A foot condition with an unusually high medial longitudinal arch.

Question 17

Why is pes cavus a problem?

Answer 17

The higher arch means the ability to shock absorb during walking is diminished and there is increased stress placed on the ball and heel of the foot.

Question 18

What are the symptoms of pes cavus?

Answer 18

Pain in the foot, radiating to the ankle, leg, thigh, and hip. Pain transmitted up lower limb due to unusually high stress placed on the hindfoot during the heel strike of the gait cycle.

Question 19

What can cause pes cavus?

Answer 19

Idiopathic causes, hereditary, from congenital foot problems like club foot, or secondary to neuromuscular damage like poliomyelitis.

Question 20

How is pes cavus managed?

Answer 20

By support the foot through special shoes or sole cushioning inserts. Weight loss can help by reducing the load the foot has to bear.

Question 21

What is pes planus?

Answer 21

A foot condition where the longitudinal arches have been lost. Flat feet in infancy is normal though, as it normally takes 2-3 years for the arches to develop.

Question 22

What can cause pes planus?

Answer 22

Damage to the tissues that make the tight tendons of the foot from injury or trauma. Sometimes the arches never form.

Question 23

What are the symptoms of pes planus?

Answer 23

Few symptoms in most. But children may have foot and ankle pain, adults may have aching feet after prolonged activity.

Question 24

How is pes planus managed?

Answer 24

By using arch-supporting inserts for shoes.