Anatomy of the Foot I Practice Midterm

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the osteology, arches, ligaments, and compartments of the human foot as presented in the lecture.

Hindfoot

Regional subdivision of the foot consisting of the talus and calcaneus bones, responsible for shock absorption and inversion/eversion.

Midfoot

Regional subdivision of the foot containing the navicular, cuboid, and three cuneiforms, involved in arch maintenance and load transfer.

Forefoot

Regional subdivision of the foot comprising the metatarsals and phalanges, functioning in push-off and fine balance.

Trochlea (Talus)

The superior articular surface of the talus that fits into the ankle mortise and is wider anteriorly than posteriorly.

Sustentaculum tali

A medial shelf on the calcaneus that supports the head of the talus and features a distal groove for the flexor hallucis longus tendon.

Peroneal tubercle (fibular trochlea)

A landmark on the lateral surface of the calcaneus that separates the fibularis longus and brevis tendons.

Navicular

A boat-shaped bone located medially in the midfoot that articulates proximally with the talar head and distally with the three cuneiforms.

Intermediate cuneiform

The middle of the three cuneiform bones and the architectural keystone of the transverse arch.

Medial Longitudinal Arch

The tallest and most clinically prominent arch of the foot, supported passively by the spring ligament and actively by the tibialis posterior.

Keystone (Medial Longitudinal Arch)

The talus, which serves as the central structural component of the tallest foot arch.

Spring ligament

A common name for the plantar calcaneonavicular ligament, which provides passive support to the medial longitudinal arch.

Lateral Longitudinal Arch

A lower and less mobile arch that functions as a stable base during standing, with the cuboid as its keystone.

Transverse Arch

An arch running medial to lateral across the midfoot, maintained actively by the fibularis longus tendon and intrinsic muscles.

Lisfranc Fracture

A specific type of fracture occurring in the midfoot region.

Sesamoid Bones (Foot)

Two bones embedded in the flexor hallucis brevis tendons that protect the tendon, bear approximately $50\%$ of body weight during push-off, and act as a pulley for the flexor hallucis longus.

Plantar Aponeurosis

A thickened central band of deep fascia that acts as a bowstring supporting longitudinal arches and transmits tensile forces during push-off.

Medial Compartment

A plantar compartment containing the abductor hallucis and flexor hallucis brevis, innervated by the medial plantar nerve.

Central Compartment

A plantar compartment containing flexor digitorum brevis, lumbricals, quadratus plantae, and flexor tendons, innervated by both medial and lateral plantar nerves.

Lateral Compartment

A plantar compartment containing the abductor digiti minimi and flexor digiti minimi, innervated by the lateral plantar nerve.

Anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL)

The most commonly injured ankle ligament; it extends from the lateral malleolus to the talar neck and is taut in plantarflexion.

Calcaneofibular ligament (CFL)

A lateral ankle ligament that is taut in dorsiflexion and extends from the lateral malleolus to the lateral calcaneus.

Posterior talofibular ligament (PTFL)

The strongest of the three lateral ankle ligaments, extending from the posterior lateral malleolus to the posterior talus; it is rarely injured.

Deltoid ligament

The medial ankle ligament complex consisting of superficial (tibiocalcaneal, tibionavicular) and deep (anterior and posterior tibiotalar) components.

Syndesmotic Ligaments

A group of ligaments including the anterior and posterior inferior tibiofibular ligaments and the interosseous membrane that bind the distal tibia and fibula to maintain the ankle mortise.

Long plantar ligament

An intrinsic foot ligament extending from the plantar calcaneus to the cuboid and the bases of the 2nd through 4th metatarsals.

Plantar plate

A dense fibrocartilaginous structure on the plantar aspect of each metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint that resists hyperextension.

Synovial Sheaths

Double-layered tubular extensions of synovial membrane (visceral and parietal layers) that reduce friction around tendons in confined spaces.

Tarsal Tunnel

An space created by the flexor retinaculum containing the tibialis posterior, FDL, posterior tibial artery/vein, tibial nerve, and FHL.

Fibular Retinacula

The superior and inferior bands that maintain the position of the fibularis longus and brevis tendons on the lateral side of the ankle.