Cuboid Flashcards

Explore the cuboid bone's surfaces, articulations, bony landmarks, ligament attachments, tendon relations, and role in foot stability.

Card 1 of 25Question

What is the cuboid bone?

A tarsal bone on the lateral side of the foot, situated between the calcaneus and the fourth and fifth metatarsals.

In This Section

1. What is the cuboid bone?

A tarsal bone on the lateral side of the foot, situated between the calcaneus and the fourth and fifth metatarsals.

2. Which region of the foot contains the cuboid bone?

The lateral midfoot.

3. Which tarsal bone articulates with the posterior surface of the cuboid?

The calcaneus.

4. Which metatarsals articulate with the anterior surface of the cuboid?

The fourth and fifth metatarsals.

5. Which tarsal bone consistently articulates with the medial surface of the cuboid?

The lateral cuneiform bone.

6. Which additional tarsal bone may articulate with the cuboid medially?

The navicular bone, through a variable articular facet.

7. Which joint is formed between the calcaneus and cuboid?

The calcaneocuboid joint.

8. Which two joints constitute the transverse tarsal joint?

The talonavicular and calcaneocuboid joints.

9. What is the characteristic shape of the cuboid bone?

A roughly cubical, wedge-shaped bone with six surfaces.

10. What is the cuboid groove?

An oblique groove on the plantar surface of the cuboid that accommodates the fibularis longus tendon.

11. Which tendon passes through the plantar groove of the cuboid?

The fibularis longus tendon.

12. What is the cuboid tuberosity?

A plantar bony prominence immediately posterior to the groove for the fibularis longus tendon.

13. What is the fibularis longus tendon’s relationship to the cuboid?

It changes direction around the cuboid before crossing the sole toward its medial insertions.

14. Which ligament forms a tunnel for the fibularis longus tendon beneath the cuboid?

The long plantar ligament.

15. Which ligament connects the plantar surfaces of the calcaneus and cuboid?

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

16. Which ligament reinforces the dorsal aspect of the calcaneocuboid joint?

The dorsal calcaneocuboid ligament.

17. Which ligament connects the cuboid to the lateral cuneiform?

The intercuneocuboid ligament complex, including dorsal, plantar, and interosseous components.

18. Which intrinsic foot muscle originates partly from the plantar cuboid?

The flexor hallucis brevis muscle.

19. Which additional intrinsic foot muscle may originate partly from the cuboid?

The adductor hallucis muscle, particularly its oblique head.

20. What is the role of the cuboid in the lateral longitudinal arch?

It acts as an important structural component between the calcaneus and lateral metatarsals.

21. How does the cuboid contribute to foot biomechanics?

It supports lateral foot stability and helps transmit forces during standing and walking.

22. Which arteries contribute to the blood supply of the cuboid?

Branches of the lateral tarsal, arcuate, and lateral plantar arterial systems, with variable contributions.

23. What is cuboid syndrome?

Lateral midfoot pain associated with suspected subtle dysfunction of the calcaneocuboid joint.

24. What is the nutcracker mechanism of cuboid fracture?

Compression of the cuboid between the calcaneus and lateral metatarsal bases during forceful forefoot abduction.

25. Why can a displaced cuboid fracture impair foot function?

Loss of lateral column length can disrupt midfoot alignment and joint mechanics.