Calcaneus Flashcards

Study the calcaneus through its surfaces, articular facets, bony landmarks, muscle attachments, ligaments, and clinical relationships.

Card 1 of 30Question

What is the calcaneus?

The largest tarsal bone, forming the principal skeletal structure of the heel.

In This Section

1. What is the calcaneus?

The largest tarsal bone, forming the principal skeletal structure of the heel.

2. Where is the calcaneus located in relation to the talus?

Inferior to the talus, in the posterior part of the foot.

3. Which tarsal bone articulates with the anterior surface of the calcaneus?

The cuboid bone.

4. What are the two joints formed by the calcaneus?

The subtalar joint and the calcaneocuboid joint.

5. What are the three commonly described talar articular facets of the calcaneus?

The anterior, middle, and posterior talar facets.

6. Which talar articular facet is the largest on the calcaneus?

The posterior talar facet.

7. What is the sustentaculum tali?

A shelf-like bony projection extending medially from the calcaneus to support the talus.

8. Which talar articular facet lies on the superior surface of the sustentaculum tali?

The middle talar facet.

9. Which tendon passes through a groove beneath the sustentaculum tali?

The flexor hallucis longus tendon.

10. What is the calcaneal sulcus?

A groove on the superior calcaneus between the posterior and middle talar articular facets.

11. Which anatomical space is formed by the calcaneal sulcus and the corresponding sulcus of the talus?

The sinus tarsi.

12. What is the calcaneal tuberosity?

The enlarged posterior and inferior projection of the calcaneus that forms the weight-bearing heel.

13. Which tendon inserts onto the posterior calcaneal tuberosity?

The calcaneal tendon, also called the Achilles tendon.

14. What are the two principal plantar processes of the calcaneal tuberosity?

The medial and lateral processes.

15. Which structure attaches to the medial process of the calcaneal tuberosity?

The central part of the plantar aponeurosis.

16. Which two superficial plantar muscles originate mainly from the medial calcaneal tuberosity?

The abductor hallucis and flexor digitorum brevis muscles.

17. Which intrinsic foot muscle originates from the lateral and medial processes of the calcaneal tuberosity?

The abductor digiti minimi muscle.

18. Which muscle originates from the plantar surface of the calcaneus and forms part of the second muscular layer of the sole?

The quadratus plantae muscle.

19. What is the fibular trochlea of the calcaneus?

A bony prominence on the lateral calcaneal surface separating grooves for the fibular tendons.

20. Which tendon passes superior to the fibular trochlea?

The fibularis brevis tendon.

21. Which tendon passes inferior to the fibular trochlea?

The fibularis longus tendon.

22. Which ligament connects the sustentaculum tali to the navicular bone?

The plantar calcaneonavicular ligament, also called the spring ligament.

23. Which ligament extends from the plantar calcaneus toward the cuboid and lateral metatarsal bases?

The long plantar ligament.

24. Which short ligament reinforces the plantar aspect of the calcaneocuboid joint?

The plantar calcaneocuboid ligament, also called the short plantar ligament.

25. Which lateral ankle ligament attaches to the lateral surface of the calcaneus?

The calcaneofibular ligament.

26. Which arteries contribute to the vascular supply of the calcaneus?

Calcaneal branches of the posterior tibial and fibular arteries, with contributions from the dorsalis pedis system.

27. What is the calcaneus's principal role in weight transmission?

It transfers weight from the talus to the ground through the heel.

28. What is a common mechanism of calcaneal fracture?

Axial loading from a fall onto the heels or another high-energy impact.

29. What is Böhler's angle used to assess?

Calcaneal height and posterior facet alignment on lateral radiographs, particularly after fractures.

30. What is the clinical significance of the posterior talar facet in calcaneal fractures?

Displacement can disrupt subtalar joint congruity and lead to post-traumatic arthritis.