ANATOMY OF THE FOOT AND ARCHES OF THE FOOT

The foot is a complex structure designed to support body weight, maintain balance, and enable locomotion. It is composed of 26 bones, arranged into the tarsus, metatarsus, and phalanges, forming arches that provide both strength and flexibility. The foot is divided into three main regions: the hindfoot (talus and calcaneus), the midfoot (navicular, cuboid, and cuneiform bones), and the forefoot (metatarsals and phalanges). These bones are connected by numerous joints, ligaments, and muscles that work together to absorb shock and propel the body during movement. The intrinsic muscles of the foot help stabilize the arches and control fine movements of the toes, while extrinsic muscles from the leg contribute to major movements like dorsiflexion, plantarflexion, inversion, and eversion. Understanding the detailed anatomy of the foot—including its bones, joints, muscles, nerves, and blood supply—is crucial for interpreting its functional mechanics and managing common clinical conditions such as flatfoot, sprains, and plantar fasciitis.

1. Foot
By
Aswani Clevin

2. Dorsal aspect
of
the foot

3. Dorsum aspect of the foot
superficial fascia
contains little if any fat
veins are consequently seen
when distended.
contains dorsal digital nerves
and vessels.
continuous above with inferior
extensor retinaculum and
blends on sides with plantar
fascia.

4. deep fascia
deep fascia binds down
the underlying tendons,
Forms Y-shaped
thickening beneath it
(inferior extensor
retinaculum) that
prevents bow stringing of
extensor tendons as they
pass across the front of
ankle joint, acting like an
ankle strap.

5. Deep to it are located
the tendons of:
long digital extensors,
extensor digitorum
brevis
intrinsic muscles of
the foot and their
tendons,
nerves and vessels
that Supply the
muscles as well as the
skin.

6. Muscles
tendons of the long (extrinsic)
extensors of the toes proceed
from the inferior retinaculum
to their insertions on the toes.
joined by corresponding
tendons of extensor digitorum
brevis which arises from an
anterolateral part of upper
surface of calcaneus and from
deep surface of inferior
extensor retinaculum.

7. Extensor muscle splits into
four small bellies, one for
each of the four medial
toes, each terminating in a
tendon.
Together with long
tendons, they insert upon
the middle and distal
phalanges and a tendon
may also pass to the little
toe.
extensors are supplied by
deep fibular nerve.

8. Nerves supply
dorsum of the foot
is supplied by
superficial
peroneal, assisted
by the deep
peroneal,
saphenous and sural
nerves.

9. Blood supply
chief artery is dorsalis pedis a.
continuation of anterior tibial
and ends by dividing into:
deep plantar a:-larger and
disappears between the two
heads of first dorsal
interosseous muscle into the
sole of the foot.
arcuate a:-smaller provides
most of dorsal metatarsal a.

10. dorsalis pedisartery
It terminates at the base of
the first intermetatarsal space
and passes down into the sole
of the foot, where it joins the
lateral plantar artery to
complete the plantar arch.
On its lateral side lie tendons
of extensor digitorumlongus
and on its medial side lie the
tendon of extensor hallucis
longus.

11. dorsal venous arch
large veins form a dorsal
venous arch which receives
most of its blood by marginal
and interosseous tributaries
from sole of foot.
dorsal venous arch lying over
heads of metatarsals, drains
from medial and lateral ends
into great and small
saphenous veins
respectively.

12. Plantar aspect
of
the foot

13. Plantar fascia
superficial fascia forms a tough
and thick padding over the sole.
Strong retinacula cutis (skin
ligaments) tether the skin to
underlying plantar aponeurosis.
Lobulated fat fills spaces
between retinacula cutis and
provides padding over weight
baring areas of the sole and
over the terminal phalanges.

14. deep fascia
central plantar aponeurosis
extends forward and divides
into digitations for the toes
attached proximally to
calcaneus.
Some of its digitations blend
with sheath above it others
continue to attach to deep
transverse metatarsal
ligaments and bases of
proximal phalanges.

15. Plantar fasciitis

16. Superficial nerves and vessels
cutaneous nerves is by
medial and lateral plantar
nerves which are terminal
branches of tibial nerve.
each nerve divide into
common plantar digital
branches which in turn
divide into proper plantar
digital nerves.

17. Intrinsic Muscles of Foot
help to support the arches.
act on toes in ways that aid locomotion.
Several of them are similar in name and
location to the intrinsic muscles of the hand.
ASWANI CLEVIN

18. Ventral Layer 1 (Most Superficial)
Several ventral muscles arise
from the plantar
aponeurosis:
flexor digitorum brevis on
midline of foot, with its four
tendons that supply all digits
except the hallux,
abductor digiti minimi
laterally
abductor hallucis medially.
ASWANI CLEVIN

19. name action Skeletal
attachment
innervation
Flexor
Digitorum
Brevis
•Flexes digits II–
IV
•supports arches
of foot
O: Calcaneus;
plantar aponeurosis
I: Middle phalanges
II–V
Medial
plantar nerve
Abductor
Digiti
Minimi
Abducts and
flexes little
toe;
supports arches
of foot
O:Calcaneus;
plantar aponeurosis
I: Proximal phalanx
V
Lateral
plantar nerve
Abductor
Hallucis
•Abducts great
toe
•supports arches
of foot
O:Calcaneus;
plantar
aponeurosis; flexor
retinaculum
I: Proximal phalanx
I
Medial
plantar nerve
ASWANI CLEVIN

20. Ventral Layer 2.
Tendons of flexor digitorum
longus which receives insertion
of quadratus plantae and
Distally gives origin to
lumbricals
tendons of flexor hallucis longus
quadratus plantae/flexor
accessorius in middle of foot
four lumbrical muscles located
between the metatarsals
ASWANI CLEVIN

21. ASWANI CLEVIN
name action Skeletal attachmentinnervation
Quadratus
Plantae/flex
or
•Flexes phalanges of
digits II–V as foot is
raised from ground;
•stabilizes metatarsal
heads and keeps
distal pads of toes in
contact with ground
in toe-off and tiptoe
movements (same as
flexor digitorum
longus);
•flexion of digits II–V
and associated
locomotor functions
O:Two heads on the
medial and lateral sides
of calcaneus
I: Distal phalanges II–V
via flexor digitorum
longus tendons
Lateral
plantar nerve
Four
Lumbrical
Muscles
Flex toes II–V O:Tendon of flexor
digitorum longus
I: Proximal phalanges II–
V
Lateral and
medial
plantar
nerves

22. Ventral Layer 3.
consists of three muscles that serve only
the great and little toes:-
flexor hallucisbrevis,
flexor digitiminimibrevis
adductor Hallucis:
oblique head: extends diagonally from
the mid-plantar region to base of great
toe
transverse head: passes across bases of
digits II–IV and meets long head at the
base of the great toe.
ASWANI CLEVIN

23. name action Skeletal
attachments
innervation
Flexor Digiti
Minimi Brevis
Flexes little
toe
O: Metatarsal V;
sheath of fibularis
longus
I: Proximal phalanx V
Lateral
plantar
nerve
Flexor Hallucis
Brevis
Flexes great
toe
O: Cuboid; lateral
cuneiform; tibialis
posterior tendon
I: Proximal phalanx I
Medial
plantar
nerve
Adductor
Hallucis
Adducts
great toe
O: Metatarsals II–IV;
fibularis longus
tendon; ligaments at
bases of digits III–V
I: Proximal phalanx I
Lateral
plantar
nerve
ASWANI CLEVIN

24. Ventral Layer 4 (Deepest).
consists only of small interosseous
muscles located between metatarsal
bones and tendons of tibialis posterior
and peroneus longus.
four dorsal and three plantar.
dorsal interosseous muscle is bi-
pennate and originates on two
adjacent metatarsals.
plantar interosseous muscles are uni-
pennate and originate on only one
metatarsal each.
ASWANI CLEVIN

25. name action Skeletal attachmentinnervation
Four Dorsal
Interosseous
Muscles
Abduct toes II–
IV
O: Each with two heads
arising from facing
surfaces of two
adjacent metatarsals
I: Proximal phalanges II–
IV
Lateral
plantar nerve
Three Plantar
Interosseous
Muscles
Adduct toes
III–V
O: Medial aspect of
metatarsals III–V
I: Proximal phalanges
III–V
Lateral
plantar nerve
ASWANI CLEVIN

26. Medial and lateral plantar nerves
They are branches of posterior tibial
nerve.

27. medial and lateral plantar arteries
Medial and lateral plantar
arteries are terminal branches
of the posterior tibialartery.
Division of posterior tibial
artery into medial and lateral
vessels takes place beneath
the flexor retinaculum.
lateral plantar artery forms
plantar arch, which links with
dorsalis pedisartery thru first
intermetatarsal space.

28. Arches of the Foot
Logitudinal arches:
Medial longitudinal arches
Lateral longitudinal arches
Transverse arches:
Anterior transverse arch
Posterior transverse arch.
heel, lateral margin of foot, ball
of the foot (the part beneath
the metatarsal heads) and pads
of distal phalanges touch the
ground.
ASWANI CLEVIN

29. arches are maintained
by:
interlocking shapes of
the foot bones
strong ligaments
pull of some tendons
during muscle activity;
ligaments and tendons
also provide resilience

30. medial longitudinal arch
curves well above the ground
talus, near the talonavicular
joint is the keystone of this
arch,
originates at calcaneum,
rises to talus, then descends
to navicular, 3 cuneiforms,
and medial 3 metatarsals
ASWANI CLEVIN

31. lateral longitudinal arch
very low and cuboid bone is the
keystone of this lateral arch.
bones forming this arch are
calcaneus, cuboid, and 4th and
5th metatarsal bones.
It elevates the lateral edge of
the foot just enough to
redistribute some of body
weight to calcaneus and some
to head of fourth and fifth
metatarsal.
ASWANI CLEVIN

32. transverse arch
two longitudinal arches serve as
pillars for transverse arch
runs obliquely from one side of the
foot to the other following the line
of the joints between the tarsals
and metatarsals
involves the bases of the five
metatarsals and Cuboid and
cuneiform bones
ASWANI CLEVIN

33. Anterior Transverse Arch:
Created by heads of metatarsals.
Its whole arch because during standing position
heads of first and fifth metatarsals come into
contact to earth and create 2 ends of the arch.

34. Posterior Transverse Arch:
created by greater parts of tarsus and
metatarsus.
incomplete arch because only its lateral end
enters into contact with all the earth during
standing position.
creates only half of dome in a single foot.
entire dome is composed when both feet are
brought together.

35. functions of the arches of the foot
Spread the body weight to the weight bearing
points of the sole
Serves as shock absorber during bound by their
spring like activity.
medial longitudinal arch gives a propulsive force
during locomotion.
lateral longitudinal arch functions as a stationary
organ of support and weight transmission.
concavity of the arches protects the nerves and
vessels of the sole.

36. Clinical Significance
Flat Foot (Pes Planus):result of failure of medial
longitudinal arch due to plantar aponeurosis and
spring ligament being overstretched resulting to
loss of support of the head of talus.
High Arched Foot (Pes Cavus): exaggeration of
lateral longitudinal arch of foot due to a
contracture (plantar flexion) at transverse tarsal
joint.

37. Clinical Significance
Club Foot/Talipe:
possibly be
congenital or
acquired.

38. Clinical Significance
Hallux Valgus: big toe is deviated
laterally at the metatarsophalangeal joint
due to continuous wearing of pointed
shoes with high heel.
Hammer Toe: metatarsophalangeal and
distal interphalangeal joints are
hyperextended but the proximal
interphalangeal joint is intensely bent.
changes the 2nd and 3rd toes.

39. End
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