Anatomic.us > Skeletal System > Appendicular Skeleton

Tarsals

These are seven, short bones that make the ankle of human beings. These bones are present between the lower end of tibia and fibula bones of lower leg and the metatarsal bones. These bones, with metatarsal bones, form the hindfoot and midfoot portion of the foot. These are strong bones that support and distribute the weight of the body by receiving it from tibia bone. Each tarsal bone is roughly cuboidal in shape.

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Tarsals

These bones are arranged in two rows. In the proximal row, talus is present above and calcaneus below. In the distal row, four tarsal bones are lying side by side; (from medial to lateral side) medial cuneiform, intermediate cuneiform, lateral cuneiform and cuboid. Another bone called the navicular bone is present between the three cuneiform bones and the talus.

 

TALUS:

It is one of the largest tarsal bones. It consists of three parts i.e. head, neck and body. There are no muscular attachments on this bone. It is covered by an articular cartilage. The superior surface of the body of talus makes a joint with the tibia bone of lower limb to form the ankle joint.

 

CALCANEUS:

It is the largest of all the tarsal bones. The prominence of the heel is made by this bone. It has six surfaces i.e. anterior, posterior, superior, plantar, lateral and medial surface. The different surfaces of this bone give attachments to different muscles and ligaments of the foot. It makes joint with the talus and cuboid bones.

 

NAVICULAR:

It is a bone that resembles the shape of a boat. It is present on the medial side of the foot, behind the cuneiform bones and in front of the talus. It has six surfaces; anterior, lateral, medial, posterior, plantar and dorsal surface. It forms joint with the talus, cuneiform and cuboid bones. The muscle tibialis posterior is inserted into the tuberosity of the navicular bone. This tuberosity is present on the medial surface of the bone.

 

CUNEIFORM BONES:

These are three in number i.e. medial, intermediate and lateral cuneiform bones. These bones are wedge shaped. These bones, at anterior end, form a joint with the metatarsal bones and at the posterior end, with navicular bone. These bones provide attachment to the tibialis anterior and slip of tibialis posterior muscles.

CUBOID:

This is present on the lateral side (dorsal row of tarsal bones) of the foot. It is present anterior to the calcaneus bone and posterior to the 4th and 5th metatarsal bones. It has six surfaces i.e. plantar, distal, proximal, dorsal, lateral and medial surfaces. The plantar surface of this bone gives origin to the flexor hallucis brevis muscle.

 

SOME IMPORTANT CLINICAL ASPECTS:

The neck (mostly during dorsiflexion of the foot) and body (mostly due to jump from a height) of talus can be fractured easily. In these fractures, there is fair chance of avascular necrosis.

Calcaneus is also fractured easily as it is also weight bearing bone (with talus).


These bones are arranged in two rows. In the proximal row, talus is present above and calcaneus below. In the distal row, four tarsal bones are lying side by side; (from medial to lateral side) medial cuneiform, intermediate cuneiform, lateral cuneiform and cuboid. Another bone called the navicular bone is present between the three cuneiform bones and the talus.

 

TALUS:

It is one of the largest tarsal bones. It consists of three parts i.e. head, neck and body. There are no muscular attachments on this bone. It is covered by an articular cartilage. The superior surface of the body of talus makes a joint with the tibia bone of lower limb to form the ankle joint.

 

CALCANEUS:

It is the largest of all the tarsal bones. The prominence of the heel is made by this bone. It has six surfaces i.e. anterior, posterior, superior, plantar, lateral and medial surface. The different surfaces of this bone give attachments to different muscles and ligaments of the foot. It makes joint with the talus and cuboid bones.

 

NAVICULAR:

It is a bone that resembles the shape of a boat. It is present on the medial side of the foot, behind the cuneiform bones and in front of the talus. It has six surfaces; anterior, lateral, medial, posterior, plantar and dorsal surface. It forms joint with the talus, cuneiform and cuboid bones. The muscle tibialis posterior is inserted into the tuberosity of the navicular bone. This tuberosity is present on the medial surface of the bone.

 

CUNEIFORM BONES:

These are three in number i.e. medial, intermediate and lateral cuneiform bones. These bones are wedge shaped. These bones, at anterior end, form a joint with the metatarsal bones and at the posterior end, with navicular bone. These bones provide attachment to the tibialis anterior and slip of tibialis posterior muscles.

CUBOID:

This is present on the lateral side (dorsal row of tarsal bones) of the foot. It is present anterior to the calcaneus bone and posterior to the 4th and 5th metatarsal bones. It has six surfaces i.e. plantar, distal, proximal, dorsal, lateral and medial surfaces. The plantar surface of this bone gives origin to the flexor hallucis brevis muscle.

 

SOME IMPORTANT CLINICAL ASPECTS:

The neck (mostly during dorsiflexion of the foot) and body (mostly due to jump from a height) of talus can be fractured easily. In these fractures, there is fair chance of avascular necrosis.

Calcaneus is also fractured easily as it is also weight bearing bone (with talus).

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