Osteology of the foot

Question 1

How many bones are in the foot and what are their sections?

Answer 1

• 26 bones
• 7 tarsal
• 5 metatarsal
• 14 phalanges

Question 2

What are the tarsal bones?

Answer 2

• talus
• calcaneus
• navicular
• cuboid
• cuneiforms (3)

Question 3

What’s the top of the talus called?

Answer 3

trochlea (aka dome of the talus)

Question 4

What are the medial and lateral facets of the talus for?

Answer 4

the medial and lateral malleolus

Question 5

The most anterior portion of the talus is the:

Answer 5

head

Question 6

The part of the calcaneus that contacts the ground is the:

Answer 6

tuberosity

Question 7

The medially projecting shelf of the calcaneus that supports part of the talus is called the:

Answer 7

sustentaculum tali

Question 8

The medial tubercle (process) of the calcaneus is an attachment point for:

Answer 8

plantar fascia

Question 9

What’s the sinus tarsi?

Answer 9

a hollow on the lateral aspect of the foot formed by the groove of the talus and the groove of the calcaneus

Question 10

In which foot bone is the groove for the peroneus longus tendon?

Answer 10

cuboid

Question 11

Which metatarsals are sesamoid bones?

Answer 11

1st and 2nd metatarsals

Question 12

What are the bones of the hindfoot?

Answer 12

talus and calcaneus

Question 13

What are the bones of the midfoot?

Answer 13

navicular, cuboid, cuneiforms

Question 14

What are the bones of the forefoot?

Answer 14

5 MTs and 14 phalanges

Question 15

What kind of joint is the proximal tibiofibular?

Answer 15

synovial plane (limited superior glide with dorsiflexion/inferior with plantar flexion)

Question 16

What are the ligaments of the fibular head?

Answer 16

anterior and posterior ligaments of the fibular head (from anterior and posterior fibula to tibia)

Question 17

What kind of joint is the distal tibiofibular?

Answer 17

fibrous

Question 18

This is the thickening of the interosseous membrane at its distal end:

Answer 18

interosseous ligament

Question 19

What are the ligaments at the distal tibiofibular joint?

Answer 19

anterior and posterior tibiofibular ligaments

Question 20

What kind of joint is the talocrural and what, exactly articulates?

Answer 20

• synovial hinge

- destal ends of tibia and fibula articulate with the trochlea (dome) of the talus

Question 21

What’s the deltoid ligament composed of, what does it attach, and what does it check?

Answer 21

• four ligaments: anterior tibiotalar, tibionavicular, tibiocalcaneal, posterior tibiotalar)
• attaches: medial malleolus - tarsal bones of the medial foot
• checks: eversion of the ankle

Question 22

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

Answer 22

attaches: lateral malleolus - neck of the talus
checks: inversion (especially when the ankle is plantar flexed)
- palpated through the sinus tarsi
- most commonly injured ligament in the foot

Question 23

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

Answer 23

attaches: lateral malleolus - lateral calcaneus
checks: inversion (when the ankle is in neutral)

Question 24

What bursa is between the achilles tendon and overlying skin?

Answer 24

subcutaneous calcaneal (aka retrocalcaneal)