Cuneiform Bones Flashcards

Examine the three cuneiform bones, their wedge-shaped structure, articulations, ligament and tendon attachments, and roles in foot stability.

Card 1 of 26Question

What are the cuneiform bones?

Three wedge-shaped tarsal bones located in the medial and central midfoot.

In This Section

1. What are the cuneiform bones?

Three wedge-shaped tarsal bones located in the medial and central midfoot.

2. What are the three cuneiform bones?

The medial, intermediate, and lateral cuneiform bones.

3. Which tarsal bone articulates posteriorly with all three cuneiforms?

The navicular bone.

4. Which metatarsal articulates primarily with the medial cuneiform?

The first metatarsal.

5. Which metatarsal articulates distally with the intermediate cuneiform?

The second metatarsal.

6. Which metatarsal articulates primarily with the lateral cuneiform?

The third metatarsal.

7. Which cuneiform bone is the largest?

The medial cuneiform.

8. Which cuneiform bone is usually the smallest?

The intermediate cuneiform.

9. How is the wedge of the medial cuneiform oriented?

Its broad base faces plantarly, and its narrow edge faces dorsally.

10. How are the wedges of the intermediate and lateral cuneiforms oriented?

Their broad bases face dorsally, and their narrow edges face plantarly.

11. Which bone lies immediately lateral to the lateral cuneiform?

The cuboid bone.

12. Why is the base of the second metatarsal recessed between the cuneiforms?

It forms a mortise-like arrangement that stabilizes the second tarsometatarsal joint.

13. Which cuneiform provides the medial attachment of the Lisfranc ligament?

The medial cuneiform.

14. Where does the Lisfranc ligament attach distally?

To the base of the second metatarsal.

15. Which muscle has a major insertion on the medial and plantar surfaces of the medial cuneiform?

The tibialis anterior muscle.

16. Which tendon inserts on the plantar aspect of the medial cuneiform after crossing the sole?

The fibularis longus tendon.

17. Which muscle inserts partly onto the intermediate and lateral cuneiforms?

The tibialis posterior muscle.

18. Which intrinsic foot muscle has an attachment to the lateral cuneiform?

The flexor hallucis brevis muscle, through its proximal origin.

19. What type of synovial joints connect the cuneiform bones to one another?

Plane synovial intercuneiform joints.

20. Which ligaments reinforce the joints between adjacent cuneiform bones?

Dorsal, plantar, and interosseous intercuneiform ligaments.

21. Which joint complex connects the cuneiforms to the metatarsal bases?

The tarsometatarsal joint complex, also called the Lisfranc joint complex.

22. Which cuneiform contributes to the medial longitudinal arch of the foot?

The medial cuneiform.

23. How do the three cuneiform bones contribute to the transverse arch?

Their wedge-shaped arrangement helps maintain the curved configuration of the midfoot.

24. Which arterial systems contribute to the blood supply of the cuneiform bones?

Dorsal tarsal branches of the dorsalis pedis system and branches of the plantar arteries.

25. What is a Lisfranc injury?

Disruption of the tarsometatarsal joint complex, often involving the ligament between the medial cuneiform and second metatarsal.

26. Why can an isolated cuneiform fracture be difficult to identify on plain radiographs?

Overlapping midfoot bones can obscure subtle fracture lines and displacement.