The Foot

Question 1

Tarsals

Answer 1

Proximal, intermediate and distal

• Proximal - talus and calcaneus
• Intermediate - navicular
• Distal - cuboid and cuneiforms

Question 2

Talus

Answer 2

Articulation…
Superiorly - ankle joint - talus and tibia and fibula
Inferiorly - subtalar joint - talus and calcaneus
Anteriorly - talonavicular joint - talus and navicular

Question 3

Calcaneus

Answer 3

Articulation…
Superiorly - subtalar joint - talus and calcaneus
Anteriorly - calcaneocuboid joint - calcaneus and the cuboid

Question 4

Navicular

Answer 4

Articulation…
Posteriorly - talus
Anteriorly - cuneiform bones
Laterally - cuboid bone

Plantar surface - tuberosity for the attachment of tibialis posterior

Question 5

Cuboid

Answer 5

Articulation…
Posteriorly - calcaneus
Anteriorly - two metatarsals

Inferior surface marked by groove for fibularis longus muscle

Question 6

Cuneiforms

Answer 6

Lateral, intermediate and medial 
Wedge shaped bones, helps form transverse arch across foot
Articulation... 
Posterior - navicular 
Anteriorly - metatarsals

Question 7

Fracture of the talus

Answer 7

• Neck - excessive dorsiflexion, neck pushed against tibia, blood supply may be disturbed -> avascular necrosis
• Body - usually occur from jumping from a height
  Malleoli of leg bones act to hold fragments together so little displacement occurs

Question 8

Fracture of the calcaneus

Answer 8

Crush type injury
Falling onto heel from height, talus driven into calcaneus
Can break in several places - comminuted fracture
Will appear shorter and wider in X-ray
Subtalar joint usually disrupted -> arthritis

Question 9

Metatarsals

Answer 9

Between tarsals and phalanges
Numbered I-V (medial to lateral)
Distal head, shaft, proximal base
- Proximally - tarsometatarsal joint - metatarsal bases and cuneiforms or cuboid bone
- Laterally - intermetatarsal joint between adjacent metatarsals
- Distally - metatarsophalangeal joint - between metatarsal head and proximal phalanx

Question 10

Metatarsal fracture

Answer 10

• Direct blow to foot - usually from heavy object dropping on foot
• Stress fracture - incomplete fracture caused by repeated stress to the bone, common in athletes, most frequent in II, III and IV
• Excessive inversion - foot violently inverted fibularis brevis muscle can tear off the base of metatarsal V

Question 11

Phalanges

Answer 11

Bones of the toes
Most have proximal, intermediate and distal
Big toe only has proximal and distal