Podiatric Medicine: Week 1 Anatomy

Vocabulary flashcards covering introductory anatomical planes, directional terminology, joint movements, and the bones and joints of the foot, lower limb, and pelvis.

Transverse plane (horizontal axis)

A plane that divides the body into superior/cranial (top half closer to the head) and inferior/caudal (bottom half closer to the feet).

Coronal plane (frontal plane)

A plane that divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back).

Sagittal plane

A plane that divides the body into midsagittal (inside) and parasagittal (outside) sections.

Medial

Anatomical term meaning nearer to the middle line.

Lateral

Anatomical term meaning far away from the middle line.

Superficial

Anatomical term meaning nearer to the skin.

Deep

Anatomical term meaning far away from the skin.

Proximal

Anatomical term meaning nearer the centre of the body.

Distal

Anatomical term meaning far away from the centre of the body (e.g., the extremities).

Plantar surface of the foot

The sole of the foot.

Dorsum of the foot

The top surface of the foot.

Flexion

A movement meaning bending; occurs anteriorly in most joints, but posteriorly at the knee.

Extension

A movement meaning straightening.

Abduction

Movement away from the median plane (abduct = to take away).

Adduction

Movement towards the median plane (add = add to the body).

Circumduction

A circular movement that includes flexion, abduction, extension, and adduction, occurring in joints such as the shoulder and hip.

Rotation

Movement around the long axis of a bone.

Bones of the foot (total count)

The foot contains 28 bones, comprising 14 phalanges, 5 metatarsals, 7 tarsals, and 2 sesamoids.

Forefoot

The anterior compartment of the foot, composed of phalanges, metatarsals, and sesamoids.

Intra-phalangeal joint

A joint located between the phalanges; the 1st phalanx has 1 joint, whereas phalanges 2 to 5 have 2 joints (PIPJ and DIPJ).

Proximal Interphalangeal joint (PIPJ)

The interphalangeal joint in toes 2 to 5 located closer to the root of the limb.

Distal Interphalangeal joint (DIPJ)

The interphalangeal joint in toes 2 to 5 located farther from the root of the limb.

1st Metatarsophalangeal joint (MPJ)

The joint formed between the 1st phalanx and the 1st metatarsal.

Midfoot

The compartment of the foot consisting of 5 tarsal bones: 3 cuneiforms (medial, intermediate, lateral), 1 cuboid, and 1 navicular.

Tarsometatarsal joint

The articulation connecting the cuneiforms with the 1st through 3rd metatarsals.

Cuboid-Metatarsal joint

The articulation connecting the cuboid bone to the 4th and 5th metatarsals.

Lis Franc joint

A complex joint involving multiple bones and ligaments between the forefoot and midfoot, historically known for Napoleon's army amputations.

Rearfoot

The posterior compartment of the foot containing 2 tarsal bones: the talus and the calcaneus.

Subtalar Joint (Talocalcaneal joint)

The rearfoot joint formed by the articulation between the talus and calcaneus.

Styloid process of the 5th metatarsal

A prominent bony landmark situated at the lateral base of the 5th metatarsal.

Tibial sesamoid

The medial sesamoid bone located beneath the head of the 1st metatarsal.

Fibular sesamoid

The lateral sesamoid bone located beneath the head of the 1st metatarsal.

Medial Malleolus

The medial bony prominence formed by the distal end of the tibia.

Lateral Malleolus

The lateral bony prominence formed by the distal end of the fibula.

Ankle Joint (Talocrural joint)

The rearfoot to lower limb joint formed by the tibia, fibula, and talus.

Tibia

The larger bone in the shin, positioned on the medial aspect of the lower leg.

Fibula

The second bone in the lower leg, positioned on the lateral side of the shin.

Knee joint bones

The three bones that constitute the knee joint: the tibia, the femur, and the patella (kneecap).

Quadriceps tendon

The tendon that connects the thigh muscles to the patella.

Patellar tendon

The tendon that connects the kneecap (patella) to the tibia.

Femur

The largest bone in the body, forming part of the hip joint (ball and socket) and the knee joint.

Acetabulum

The socket of the pelvis into which the femoral head inserts to form the hip ball-and-socket joint.