Foot & Ankle Anatomy

Anatomy of the Foot

Foot Anatomy

The healthy foot is made up of 26 bones, although it is not uncommon for individuals to have additional small bones called ossicles. The foot bones are divided into 3 sections (hind, mid, and forefoot). The hind foot is composed of the talus and calcaneus (heel bone). The midfoot is composed of the small, irregularly shaped bones between the hindfoot and long foot bones (see the pic above). That leaves the long foot bones, the pad of the foot, and toes for the forefoot.

Each bone has protective Articular Cartilage cushioning it from rubbing directly against other bones. It allows the bones to move smoothly. It is elastic enough to act as a shock absorber and tough enough to last through a lifetime of regular use. Unfortunately, if it’s injured the healing process can be long due to limited blood flow and slow regrowth.

Anatomy of the Ankle

Ankle Anatomy

The healthy ankle is a joint consisting of three bones, wrapped by ligaments and cushioned by thick cartilage. The three bones that form the ankle are the fibula, shinbone (tibia), and talus. The fibula and tibia make up the lower leg and their lower edge forms the top portion of the ankle. They rest on the talus, which is the uppermost bone of the foot.

Each bone has protective Articular Cartilage cushioning it from rubbing directly against other bones. It allows the bones to move smoothly. It is elastic enough to act as a shock absorber and tough enough to last through a lifetime of regular use. Unfortunately, if it’s injured the healing process can be long due to limited blood flow and slow regrowth.

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ADDITIONAL FOOT & ANKLE RESOURCES

View Our Animations for Foot & Ankle Procedures

Links to Orthopedic Foot Education

Click on the links below for more educational information about the foot.

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons(AAOS) – This site is focused on providing current orthopedic information. It is full of multimedia information on many aspects of the orthopedic field. The link directs you to a section devoted to the foot and ankle. By clicking on the banner at the top more general information may be accessed.

U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health (NIH)-Foot injuries and disorders – This site starts with a basic description of conditions that affect the foot. Scrolling further down the page reveals many links to topics about symptom recognition, treatment, rehabilitation, specific conditions, and other related information.

All patient education materials are provided by OrthoPatientEd.com and have been reviewed by our Advisory Board of leading Orthopedic Surgeons to ensure accuracy. All materials are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for medical advice from your orthopedic surgeon. Any medical decisions should be made after consulting a qualified physician.

This site includes links to other websites. OrthoPatientEd.com takes no responsibility for the content or information contained in the linked sites.

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