Joints of the Foot

• Foot

  Longitudinal and Transverse Arches

  Weight-bearing capabilities and resilience

  Arches:

  Distribute weight

  Act as Shock absorbers

  Act as Spring-boards

  
• Transverse arch

  Supported by:

  –Tendon of Tibialis Posterior

  –Tendon of Peroneus (Fibularis) Longus

  –Adductor Hallucis muscle

  –Deep Transverse Metatarsal Ligament

  
• Longitudinal Arch

  Bones of Lateral Arch:

  Calcaneus, Cuboid, Metatarsals 4 and 5

  Lateral arch rests on the ground when standing

  
• Longitudinal Arch

  Bones of Medial Arch:

  Calcaneus, Talus, Navicular, 3 Cuneiforms, Metatarsals 1-3

  Higher and more important than lateral arch

  
• Longitudinal Arch

  Dynamic Support:

  Intrinsic muscles of foot

  Flexor Hallucis Longus

  Flexor Digitorum Longus

  Passive Support:

  Plantar calcaneonavicular (spring) ligament

  2. Short plantar ligament (calcaneocuboid)

  3. Long plantar ligament

  4. Plantar aponeurosis

  
• Weight Distribution

  Weight distributed almost equally between Calcaneus and Heads of Metatarsals

  
• Joints of the Foot

  Talonavicular + Calcaneocuboid joints = Transverse (Mid) Tarsal Joint

  
• Subtalar Joint

  Anatomical Subtalar Joint:

  Plane synovial

  Talus: slightly concave posterior Calcaneal articular surface

  Calcaneus: convex posterior articular facet

  
• Ligaments of subtalar joint

  •Weak capsule supported by Medial, Lateral, Interosseous and Posterior Talocalcaneal Ligaments

  •Interosseous ligament is especially strong

  
• Transverse (mid)tarsal joint

  Talocalcaneonavicular Joint

  -Talocalcaneal part = plane synovial

  -Talonavicular part = ball and socket

  Calcaneocuboid Joint

  -Plane synovial

  
• Transverse (mid)tarsal joint

  
• Ligaments of Midtarsal Joint

  Bifurcate Ligament

  -Calcaneus → Navicular and Cuboid

  Dorsal Calcaneocuboid Ligament

  -Calcaneus → Cuboid

  Long Plantar Ligament

  -Calcaneus → Cuboid and Metatarsals

  Short Plantar Ligament

  -Calcaneus → Cuboid

  Spring Ligament

  -Calcaneus → Navicular

  
• Ligaments of Midtarsal Joint

  
• Movements

  Subtalar & Talocalcaneal part of Talocalcaneonavicular Joints: Inversion/Eversion

  Midtarsal Joint:

  -Augments Inversion/Eversion

  -Muscles attach on midfoot/forefoot

  -Start of inversion/eversion:

  ⇒ Forefoot and midfoot rotate on hindfoot at MIDTARSAL JT.

  Ligaments tighten, force transferred calcaneus

  Forefoot, midfoot and calcaneus rotate under talus (SUBTALAR JT.)

  
• Tarsometatarsal

  Anterior Tarsal bones

  (cuboid and cuneiforms)

  Bases of Metatarsals

  
• Tarsometatarsal Joints

  
• Tarsometatarsal ligaments

  Dorsal, Plantar and Interosseous ligaments bind the bones together

  
• Metatarsophalangeal (MTP) Joints: Synovial condyloid joint

  Flexion, Extension, Abduction, Adduction

  Interphalangeal (IP) Joints:Synovial hinge joints

  Flexion and Extension