The foot’s 26 bones - tarsals, metatarsals, and phalanges form arches for support and mobility.
The human foot contains a total of 26 bones, forming a complex structure that supports body weight, enables locomotion, and provides balance. These bones are organized into three functional groups: the tarsal bones (forming the hindfoot and midfoot), the metatarsal bones (forming the forefoot), and the phalanges (toes). Each group plays a distinct role in foot mechanics and contributes to the structural arches that provide spring and stability during walking and running.
There are seven tarsal bones located in the hindfoot and midfoot. These are the talus, calcaneus, navicular, cuboid, and the three cuneiform bones (medial, intermediate, and lateral).
The talus is the second largest tarsal bone and forms the lower part of the ankle joint by articulating with the tibia and fibula. It has no muscular attachments and transmits the entire weight of the body to the foot via the calcaneus and navicular bones.
The calcaneus is the largest tarsal bone and forms the heel. It serves as the primary weight-bearing bone of the foot during standing and walking.
The navicular is a boat-shaped bone located medially in the midfoot. It articulates with the talus posteriorly and the three cuneiforms anteriorly.
The cuboid is located on the lateral side of the foot. It articulates with the calcaneus posteriorly, the fourth and fifth metatarsals anteriorly, and the lateral cuneiform and navicular medially.
There are three cuneiform bones: medial, intermediate, and lateral. These bones lie anterior to the navicular and articulate with the first three metatarsals.
Cuneiform | Location | Articulations |
---|---|---|
Medial cuneiform | Most medial of the three | Navicular, 1st and 2nd metatarsals |
Intermediate cuneiform | Between medial and lateral | Navicular, 2nd metatarsal |
Lateral cuneiform | Most lateral of the three | Navicular, 2nd and 3rd metatarsals |
The foot has five metatarsal bones, labeled I through V from medial to lateral. They are long bones with a base (proximal), shaft (body), and head (distal). These bones form the framework of the forefoot and play a vital role in weight transfer during gait.
Each metatarsal has:
The toes contain a total of 14 phalanges: each of the lesser toes (2nd to 5th) has three (proximal, middle, distal), while the great toe (hallux) has only two (proximal and distal).
Toe | Phalanges Present |
---|---|
Great toe (Hallux) | Proximal, Distal |
Toes 2–5 | Proximal, Middle, Distal |
The bones of the foot are arranged in arches that distribute weight and absorb shock. These include the medial longitudinal arch, lateral longitudinal arch, and transverse arch.
Ossification of the foot bones occurs at different times. Most tarsal bones ossify from a single center except the calcaneus, which has a secondary ossification center for the apophysis. The calcaneus ossifies first (around 5 months intrauterine), followed by the talus, cuboid, and others postnatally.
The bones of the foot form numerous joints, many of which are synovial: