Anatomy of a Foot

Foot Anatomy

The foot is a complex structure made up of bones, joints, muscles and soft tissues. The foot is divided into three sections; the forefoot, midfoot and hindfoot.

Forefoot: Contains five toes, also known as phalanges, and five longer bones, known as metatarsals.

Midfoot: Forms the arches of the feet. This section contains three cuneiform bones, the cuboid bone and the navicular bone.

Hindfoot: Forms the heel and ankle. The heel bone, also known as the calcaneus, is the largest bone in the foot. The talus bone supports the leg bones, and forms the ankle.

Muscles, tendons and ligaments run along the bottom of the feet. These make it possible for movement and balance. The Achilles tendon, which connects the heel to the calf muscle, makes running, jumping and balancing on the toes possible.

Foot Problems

With all these components, no wonder there are so many different foot conditions. There is potential for something to go wrong with each part of the foot. For example, bones can get fractured or broken, or grow abnormally. Muscles can get strained. Ligaments can get inflamed. Cartilage can wear out.

If something inside your foot is aching, you're having trouble walking, you're experiencing swelling, etc., see a physician to identify the problem. 

Image by Charli Lopez. Feet. (2011). Flickr.