Tarsals

Question 1

How many tarsal bones are there

Answer 1

7

Question 2

Name all the tarsal bones

Answer 2

Calcaneus, Talus, Navicular, Cuboid, Medial intermediate and lateral Cuneiform

Question 3

How would you identify the Talus

Answer 3

This is the second largest tarsal bone, it will rest ontop of the calcaneus

Question 4

Where is the head of the talus

Answer 4

This is the rounded distal articular surface

Question 5

Where is the body of the talus

Answer 5

This is the squarish bulk of the bone

Question 6

Where is the neck of the talus

Answer 6

This connects the body to the head of the bone, occasionally there is a small facet on here

Question 7

Where is the sulcus tali on the talus

Answer 7

This is a deep groove between the posterior and the middle calcaneal articular surfaces

Question 8

How would you anatomically and positionally side the talus

Answer 8

Anatomically: The saddle shaped articular surface is superior and the head is anterior
Positionally: The head is medial when view from above

Question 9

How would you identify the calcaneus

Answer 9

This is the largest tarsal bone and fits under the talus

Question 10

Where is the calcaneal tubercle on the calcaneus

Answer 10

This is the large blunt posterior process of the heel

Question 11

Where is the fibular tubercle on the calcaneus

Answer 11

This is the rounded projection low on the lateral surface of the calcaneal body

Question 12

How would you anatomically and positionally side the calcaneus

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Describe the cuboid

Answer 13

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

Question 14

How would you anatomically and positionally side the cuboid

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Describe the Navicular

Answer 15

This has a strongly concave proximal surface with a large facet on the distal surface.

Question 16

How would you anatomically and positionally side the navicular

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Describe the medial cuneiform

Answer 17

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

Question 18

How would you anatomically and positionally side the medial cuneiform

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Describe the intermediate cuneiform

Answer 19

This is the second but the smallest of the cuneiforms. Slim wedged shape

Question 20

How would you anatomically and positionally side the intermediate cuneiform

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Describe the lateral cuneiform

Answer 21

This is the middle size one and is found in the centre of the foot

Question 22

How would you anatomically and positionally side the lateral cuneiform

Answer 22

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