Foot Anatomy Arches Biomechanics and Range of Motion

Foot Anatomy: Arches Biomechanics and Range of Motion. To take full advantage of the learning opportunities presented in this resource, Internet access is recommended. Also, view the presentation in “Slide Show” mode. Click on the “Slide Show” tab in your tool bar, then click on the “From the Beginning” tab. As an alternative, you may press the F 5 key as a shortcut to begin the presentation.

Arches: Function and Structure. The FUNCTIONS of Arches in the Human Foot: – To Facilitate Weight Distribution (Weight Bearing): • Distribute weight / forces throughout entire foot. – To Facilitate Movement: • Energy transfer; • Provide an efficient spring-like action.

Arches: Function and Structure. The STRUCTURE of Arches in the Human Foot: – Formed by the tarsal and metatarsal bones; – Strengthened / supported by ligaments and muscles.

Arches: Function and Structure. The “Keystone” Component: – In architecture, the keystone is a wedge-shaped stone at the apex of an arch; locks all other stones in position; allows the arch to bear weight. – In the human foot, the keystone is the bone at the apex of the arch.

Arches: A Closer Look. The Human Foot has Three Arches: 1. The medial longitudinal arch; 2. The lateral longitudinal arch; and 3. The transverse arch.

The Medial Longitudinal Arch.

The Medial Longitudinal Arch. • Highest of the three arches; • Comprises the medial column of the foot; • Composed of the calcaneus, the talus, the navicular, three cuneiforms, and the first three metatarsal bones. • Keystone: The talus.

The Medial Longitudinal Arch. Supporting Ligaments: • Plantar Calcaneonavicular (Spring) I. – A ligament on the underside of the foot that connects the calcaneus with the navicular bone. • Long Plantar I. – A long ligament on the underside of the foot that connects the calcaneus with the cuboid bone. • Deltoid I. – Series of fibers that support the foot’s arch and provides stability on the medial side. • Plantar Fascia. – A band of tissue in the foot, spanning the arch from heel to ball along the sole, that supports the arch.

The Medial Longitudinal Arch. Supporting Muscles: • Intrinsic (located within the foot): Abductor Hallucis and Flexor Hallucis Brevis: • Extrinsic (located outside the foot, in the lower leg): Tibialis Posterior, Flexor Hallucis Longus, and Flexor Digitorum Longus: – Abductor Hallucis is located in the medial border of the foot; flattens as it goes forward; – Flexor Hallucis Brevis arises from the medial part of the under surface of the cuboid bone. – Tibialis Posterior is a powerful deep muscle; the key stabilizing muscle of the lower leg; – Flexor Hallucis Longus is a deep muscle that distally attaches to the plantar surface of the hallux (great or big toe); – Flexor Digitorum Longus is located on the tibial side of the leg; serves to curl the 2 nd, 3 rd, 4 th, and 5 th phalanges.

The Lateral Longitudinal Arch.

The Lateral Longitudinal Arch. • Lower and flatter than the medial arch; • Comprises the lateral column of the foot; • Composed of the calcaneus, the cuboid, and the fourth and fifth metatarsal bones. • Keystone: The cuboid.

The Lateral Longitudinal Arch. Supporting Ligaments: • Long Plantar I. – The longest of all the ligaments of the tarsus; connects the calcaneus with the cuboid bone. • Short Plantar I. – Short, wide, and withstand heavy forces; connects the calcaneus to the plantar surface of the cuboid bone.

The Lateral Longitudinal Arch. Supporting Muscles: • Intrinsic: Abductor Digiti Minimi and Flexor Digitorum Brevis: – Abductor Digiti Minimi is located along the outer border of the foot and is the first layer of the plantar muscles; controls the movement of the metatarsophalangeal joint; – Flexor Digitorum Brevis is located within the sole of the foot; enables the four lateral toes to be flexed. • Extrinsic: Peroneus Longus, Peroneus Brevis, and Peroneus Tertius: – Peroneus (Fibularis) Longus located in the lateral compartment of the leg and acts to evert and plantar flex the ankle; – Peroneus Brevis lies under the peroneus longus and is shorter and smaller than the peroneus longus; – Peroneus Tertius is part of the extensor digitorum longus; functions to flip the foot at the ankle joint and has weak dorsiflexion of the ankle joint.

The Transverse Arch.

The Transverse Arch. • Also known as the metatarsal arch; • Intersects the other arches at the tarsometatarsal joint; • Composed of the cuneiforms, the cuboid, and the bases of the five metatarsal bones. • Keystone: The intermediate cuneiform.

The Transverse Arch. Supporting Ligaments: • Tarsometatarsal I. and Intermetatarsal I. – Allow slight gliding of the bones upon each other. • Plantar Fascia. – A band of tissue in the foot, spanning the arch from heel to ball along the sole, that supports the arch.

The Transverse Arch. Supporting Muscles: • Intrinsic: Almost All Plantar Muscles. • Extrinsic: – Peroneus (Fibularis) Longus located in the lateral compartment of the leg and acts to evert and plantar flex the ankle; – Tibialis Posterior is a powerful deep muscle; the key stabilizing muscle of the lower leg.

Anatomy of the Foot: Arches. PES PLANUS: Also referred to as “flatfoot” or “fallen arches. ” Feet exhibit an absence of the medial and lateral longitudinal arches upon weightbearing. A collapse, depression, lowering, or flattening of the longitudinal arch. The entire sole of the foot comes into complete or near-complete contact with the ground. PES CAVUS: Also referred to as “high instep” or “high arches. ” The medial longitudinal arch is distinctly elevated when bearing weight. As a result, an excessive amount of weight is placed on the ball and heel of the foot when walking or standing.

Anatomy of the Foot: Arches Video Watch this video to learn more about arches in the human foot. Click on the following video title: Arches of the Foot: Identifying the Arches.

Knowledge Check 1. What nine bones compose the medial longitudinal arch?

Knowledge Check 1, continued. What nine bones compose the medial longitudinal arch? The calcaneus; The talus; The navicular; Three cuneiforms; and The first three metatarsal bones.

Knowledge Check 2. In the human foot, the (blank) is the bone at the apex of the arch.

Knowledge Check 2, continued. In the human foot, the (blank) is the bone at the apex of the arch. Keystone.

Knowledge Check 3. What four bones compose the lateral longitudinal arch?

Knowledge Check 3, continued. What four bones compose the lateral longitudinal arch? The calcaneus; The cuboid; and The 4 th and 5 th (lateral) metatarsal bones.

Knowledge Check 4. If a foot has a depressed longitudinal arch during weightbearing, the foot is said to be:

Knowledge Check 4, continued. If a foot has a depressed longitudinal arch during weightbearing, the foot is said to be: Pes Planus.

Knowledge Check 5. This arch has the cuboid bone as its keystone:

Knowledge Check 5, continued. This arch has the cuboid bone as its keystone: Lateral longitudinal arch.

Knowledge Check 6. If a foot has an elevated, rigid arch during weightbearing, the foot is said to be:

Knowledge Check 6, continued. If a foot has an elevated, rigid arch during weightbearing, the foot is said to be: Pes Cavus.

Knowledge Check 7. The band of tissue in the foot that spans from the calcaneus to the metatarsal heads and supports the arch is the:

Knowledge Check 7, continued. The band of tissue in the foot that spans from the calcaneus to the metatarsal heads and supports the arch is the: Plantar Fascia.

Knowledge Check 8. This arch extends from the medial to the lateral side of the foot.

Knowledge Check 8, continued. This arch extends from the medial to the lateral side of the foot. Transverse arch.

Knowledge Check 9. This arch is the highest of the three arches.

Knowledge Check 9, continued. This arch is the highest of the three arches. Medial longitudinal arch.

Knowledge Check 10. When referring to the human foot, (blank) muscles are located within the foot, while (blank) muscles are located outside the foot, in the leg.

Knowledge Check 10, continued. When referring to the human foot, (blank) muscles are located within the foot, while (blank) muscles are located outside the foot, in the leg. Intrinsic, Extrinsic.

Foot Anatomy: Arches. This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U. S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U. S. Department of Labor. The U. S. Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. Produced 2016. HOPE Careers Consortium is a partnership of five institutions of higher education that is building exciting new programs that will provide valuable career education and training in the Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Pedorthics (O&P) sector. The five institutions are: Baker College—Flint, Michigan; Century College—White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology—Okmulgee, Oklahoma; Spokane Falls Community College—Spokane, Washington; and St. Petersburg College—St. Petersburg, Florida. Although the authoring institution of this educational resource has made every effort to ensure that the information presented is correct, the institution assumes no liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions. Except where otherwise noted (images from Wikimedia), this work by Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology (OSUIT) is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4. 0 International License. To view a copy of this license, click on the following link: Creative Commons Licenses 4. 0.