Osteology and Movement of the Foot

Question 1

What is the “true ankle joint”?

Answer 1

the Talocrural Joint

Question 2

What’s the articulation of the talocrural joint and what type of joint is it?

Answer 2

• distal ends of the tibia and fibula articulate with the trochlea (dome) of the talus
• synovial hinge (dorsi and plantar flexion)

Question 3

What’s the deltoid ligament?

Answer 3

four ligaments (anterior tibiotalar, tibionavicular, tibiocalcaneal, posterior tibiotalar)

Question 4

What does the deltoid ligament attach and what does it check?

Answer 4

• medial malleolus – tarsal bones of the medial foot

- checks eversion of the ankle

Question 5

What’s an avulsion fracture?

Answer 5

Ligaments stay intact but break away a piece of the bone. (e.g. Since Deltoid Ligament is stronger than bone, injuries to this area might result in fracture of medial malleolus.)

Question 6

What does the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) attach, and what does it check?

Answer 6

• lateral malleolus – neck of the talus

- checks inversion (especially when ankle is plantar flexed)

Question 7

What’s the most commonly injured ligament in the foot?

Answer 7

the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL)

Question 8

What does the calcaneofibular ligament attach and what does it check?

Answer 8

• lateral malleolus – lateral calcaneus

- checks inversion (when the ankle is in neutral)

Question 9

What’s the bursa between the Achilles tendon and overlying skin?

Answer 9

-subcutaeous calcaneal (a.k.a. retrocalcaneal)

Question 10

Where is the subtendinous calcaneal bursa?

Answer 10

between the Achilles tendon and the calcaneus

Question 11

What are the (most relevant) intertarsal joints?

Answer 11

• subtalar
• talocalcaneonavicular
• calcaneocuboid

Question 12

What’s the articulation of the Subtalar Joint, what type of joint is it, and what are its movements?

Answer 12

• inferior aspect of the talus – superior aspect of calcaneus
• synovial plane
• inversion and eversion (augmented/supported by movements of other joints in foot)

Question 13

What’s the articulation of the Talocalcaneonavicular Joint and what type of joint is it?

Answer 13

• talus – calcaneus – navicular

- synovial ball and socket (but not typical)

Question 14

What’s the a.k.a. for plantar calcaneonavicular ligament?

Answer 14

spring ligament

Question 15

What does the plantar calcaneonavicular ligament attach, and what does it help maintain?

Answer 15

• sustentaculum tali – posteroinferior surface of the navicular
• helps maintain the medial longitudinal arch (if stretched, head of talus can sink, resulting in flat foot (pes plantus))

Question 16

What’s the articulation of the Calcaneocuboid Joint and what type of joint is it?

Answer 16

• calcaneus – cuboid

- synovial plane

Question 17

What does the long plantar ligament attach and what does it help maintain?

Answer 17

• plantar surface of the calcaneus – cuboid and the bases of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th MTs
• helps maintain the arches of the foot

Question 18

What’s the a.k.a. for the Transverse Tarsal joint, and what is it really composed of?

Answer 18

• the midtarsal joint

- the talocalcaneonavicular joint and calcaneocuboid joint are referred to as the transverse tarsal (or midtarsal) joint

Question 19

What are the available movements of the Transverse Tarsal joint?

Answer 19

-helps increase the inversion/eversion range by allowing abduction and adduction of the forefoot

Question 20

Tarsometatarsal Joints are made up of which articulations, and what type of joints are they?

Answer 20

• distal 4 tarsal bones – bases of the metatarsals

- synovial plane

Question 21

What are the ligaments of the tarsometatarsal joints?

Answer 21

Dorsal, plantar and interosseous ligaments

Question 22

What are the articulations of the intermetatarsal joints, and what type of joints are they?

Answer 22

• bases of the metatarsals

- synovial plane

Question 23

What are the ligaments of the intermetatarsal joints?

Answer 23

Bases of the 2nd through 5th metatarsals are firmly bound by dorsal, plantar and interosseous ligaments

Question 24

What are the articulations of the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints, and what type of joints are they?

Answer 24

• the heads of the metatarsals articulate with the bases of the proximal phalanges
• synovial condyloid

Question 25

What are the available movements of the metatarsophalangeal joints?

Answer 25

• flexion, extension

- some abduction, adduction, circumduction (by passively grabbing the toe and moving circularly)

Question 26

What are the ligaments of the metatarsophalangeal joints?

Answer 26

• collateral ligaments on either side of the joints

- the plantar surface of the joint capsules are thickened to form the plantar plate (ligaments)

Question 27

What are the articulations of the interphalangeal joints (PIPs and DIPs), and what type of joints are they?

Answer 27

• the head of one phalanx articulates with the base of the phalanx distal to it
• synovial hinge

Question 28

What are the available movements of the interphalangeal joints (PIPs and DIPs)?

Answer 28

flesion, extension

Question 29

What are the ligaments of the interphalangeal joints (PIPs and DIPs)?

Answer 29

collateral ligaments

Question 30

What are the arches of the foot?

Answer 30

• medial logitudinal arch
• lateral longitudinal arch
• tranverse arch

Question 31

How are the arches maintained (supported)?

Answer 31

1. the shape of the interlocking bones (primary way they’re maintained)
2. the ligaments
3. the fascia
4. the action of the muscles

Question 32

What’s the primary function of the Medial Logitudinal Arch?

Answer 32

Propulsion, not weight-bearing

Question 33

What are the bones of the Medial Logitudinal Arch?

Answer 33

• calcaneus
• talus
• navicular
• 3 cuneiforms
• metatarsals 1-3

Question 34

What’s the primary function of the Lateral Logitudinal Arch?

Answer 34

Weight-bearing, not propulsion

Question 35

What are the bones of the Lateral Longitudinal Arch?

Answer 35

• calcaneus
• cuboid
• metatarsals 4 and 5

Question 36

What are the parts of the transverse arch?

Answer 36

• anterior: head of the 1st MT to the head of the 5th MT
• middle: cuneiform #1 to cuboid
• posterior: navicular to cuboid

Question 37

Where does the Plantar Fascia (or Plantar Aponeurosis) attach?

Answer 37

medial calcaneal tubercle – proximal phalanx of each toe

Question 38

What does the long plantar ligament help form a tunnel for?

Answer 38

tendon of peroneus longus