Skeletal elements
The hindfoot (2 bones), midfoot (5 bones), and forefoot are the three functional components of the foot (19 bones). In order to give both flexibility and stability, all components must cooperate.The five metatarsal bones and the phalanges (toes) are located in the forefoot. A number of bones make up each toe (phalanx). The proximal and distal phalanges of the great toe, commonly known as the hallux, are bigger than all the other phalanges. Proximal, distal, and intermediate phalanx bones make up each of phalanges two through five (an additional middle bone). The metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint, which joins each phalanx to a metatarsal, forms the ball of the foot. The base, shaft, and head of a metatarsal are the three parts that make up its distal end.
The sizes of the five metatarsals vary. The first metatarsal is the smallest, has the biggest diameter, carries the most weight, and is crucial for propulsion (Quinn, 2009). Two sesamoid bones, which function to attach tiny muscles and help stabilize the first MTP joint, are located at the head of the first metatarsal bone on the plantar surface of the foot. Sesamoid bones, which are bones embedded within tendons, serve to safeguard the tendon as it crosses a bony protrusion.The most stable metatarsal bones are the second, third, and fourth ones. The fifth metatarsal tuberosity, also known as the styloid process, is an elevation near the base of the fifth metatarsal. On the lateral side of the foot, this region is easily palpable.
Five of the seven tarsal bones are found in the midfoot (Figure 15-2). The navicular, cuboid, and three cuneiform tarsals, which have atypical shapes, make up the arch and have several joints. In the proximal midfoot, the navicular bone and the three cuneiform bones articulate. The five tarsometatarsal (TMT) joints are where the midfoot and forefoot are joined. Muscles and ligaments link the midfoot to the hindfoot.
The talus and calcaneus, two of the seven tarsal bones, make up the hindfoot, which connects the midfoot to the ankle. The foot may move up and down thanks to the talus, which rests on top of the calcaneus and articulates with the tibia and fibula at the calcaneus and navicular bones. The biggest tarsal and largest bone in the foot, the calcaneus creates the heel. It enables the foot to adjust to the motion of walking by becoming stiff or relaxed. Additionally, it is the root of a number of heel aches (Jolly et al, 2005).
At the joints, ligaments keep the bones together. The biggest and strongest tendon in the foot, the Achilles tendon runs from the calf muscle to the heel. The longest ligament, the planter fascia, creates an arch on the bottom of the foot from heel to toe. Because the ligaments can overextend, tear, and coil back on themselves, these lengthy fibrous strands are susceptible to damage (such as a strain or sprain in the foot or ankle). Scar tissue forms when the strain heals over time, but the scar is never as robust as the ligament's original fibers.
