Tarsals Flashcards
How many tarsal bones are there
7
Name all the tarsal bones
Calcaneus, Talus, Navicular, Cuboid, Medial intermediate and lateral Cuneiform
How would you identify the Talus
This is the second largest tarsal bone, it will rest ontop of the calcaneus
Where is the head of the talus
This is the rounded distal articular surface
Where is the body of the talus
This is the squarish bulk of the bone
Where is the neck of the talus
This connects the body to the head of the bone, occasionally there is a small facet on here
Where is the sulcus tali on the talus
This is a deep groove between the posterior and the middle calcaneal articular surfaces
How would you anatomically and positionally side the talus
Anatomically: The saddle shaped articular surface is superior and the head is anterior
Positionally: The head is medial when view from above
How would you identify the calcaneus
This is the largest tarsal bone and fits under the talus
Where is the calcaneal tubercle on the calcaneus
This is the large blunt posterior process of the heel
Where is the fibular tubercle on the calcaneus
This is the rounded projection low on the lateral surface of the calcaneal body
How would you anatomically and positionally side the calcaneus
Anatomically: The tuberosity is posterior, the sustentaculum tali projects medially
Positionally: With the heel away from you and the articular surfaces up, the shelf projects to the side from which the bone comes
Describe the cuboid
This sits on the lateral side of the foot, it is large in size with a projecting pointed articular surface. It is the most cube shaped of the tarsals
How would you anatomically and positionally side the cuboid
Anatomically: The wide flat surface is lateral and the pointed facet is proximal
Positionally: Look directly as the flat surface with the calcaneal facet towards you the tuberosity projects laterally on the side from which the bone comes
Describe the Navicular
This has a strongly concave proximal surface with a large facet on the distal surface.
How would you anatomically and positionally side the navicular
Anatomically: The concave facet is proximal. The large flat surface is dorsal and the tubercle medial
Positionally: Hold the bone by the base of the tubercle with the concave surface facing you, the tip of the tubercle faces to the side it’s from
Describe the medial cuneiform
This is the first cuneiform and is the largest it articulates with the navicular, it is less wedge shaped and has a kidney shaped facet
How would you anatomically and positionally side the medial cuneiform
Anatomically: The kidney shaped surface is distal the broad rough surface is medial and the lateral facet is superior
Positionally: Place the kidney shaped facet away from you - the long axis vertically, with the smaller facet towards you. The only other facet is on top and faces the side it is from
Describe the intermediate cuneiform
This is the second but the smallest of the cuneiforms. Slim wedged shape
How would you anatomically and positionally side the intermediate cuneiform
Anatomically: The dorsal surface is the broadest and sits on top as the bone wedges inferiorly
Positionally: Place the flat surface up and the concave facet away from you the outline of the superior surface is square whose most projecting corner points towards the side it comes from
Describe the lateral cuneiform
This is the middle size one and is found in the centre of the foot
How would you anatomically and positionally side the lateral cuneiform
Anatomically: The dorsal surface is rectangular and the bone wedges inferiorly to this makes a v shape
Positionally: Place the flat surface up with the smaller facet end towards you, the Africa shaped facet is away from you, the longest boundary of the upper surface is on the side from which the bone comes
