Tarsal
Tarsal refers to a group of seven bones located in the foot, specifically in the area between the lower leg and the metatarsals. These bones are responsible for the foot's structure and movement. The tarsal bones include the talus, calcaneus, navicular, three cuneiform bones, and the cuboid.
Anatomy[edit | edit source]
The tarsal bones are arranged in two rows. The proximal row is formed by the talus and the calcaneus. The distal row is formed by the navicular, three cuneiform bones (medial, intermediate, and lateral), and the cuboid.
Talus[edit | edit source]
The talus is the second largest tarsal bone and is crucial for weight-bearing and movement. It articulates with the tibia and fibula in the ankle joint.
Calcaneus[edit | edit source]
The calcaneus is the largest tarsal bone and forms the heel. It supports the talus above and articulates with the cuboid in front.
[edit | edit source]
The navicular is boat-shaped and located in front of the talus.
Cuneiform Bones[edit | edit source]
The three cuneiform bones are wedge-shaped and located in front of the navicular. They are named for their location: medial, intermediate, and lateral.
Cuboid[edit | edit source]
The cuboid is cube-shaped and located in front of the calcaneus.
Function[edit | edit source]
The tarsal bones play a crucial role in the foot's structure and movement. They provide support and stability, allow for a range of motion, and help absorb shock.
Clinical Significance[edit | edit source]
Injuries or disorders affecting the tarsal bones can lead to foot pain and mobility issues. These include fractures, arthritis, and deformities.
Tarsal Resources | ||
---|---|---|
|
|
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD