At Feet First Foot Care, our patients are our first priority. Our Cromwell, Connecticut office offers a full array of podiatric services to help you maintain healthy feet. You can read more on this page about specific services. We recommend anyone who experiences persistent foot pain to schedule an appointment with our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas. To schedule an appointment at our office, call (860)-632-5499, or visit our website for more information. Foot bones connect to form one of the most complex parts of the body. Some health conditions, injuries, and general wear and tear can cause or contribute to conditions affecting foot bones. In this blog, we hope to inform our patients of the importance of maintaining healthy feet by sharing a brief overview of the anatomy of the foot.

Foot Bones and Anatomy

The human foot consists of 26 bones connected by many joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Joints are where two bones meet. In the feet, each toe has two joints. The other four toes have three joints each. The muscles that control the movements of the foot originate in the lower leg attached to the bones in the foot with tendons. The foot divides into three sections:

  1. The forefoot contains the five toes (phalanges) and the five longer bones (metatarsals).
  2. The midfoot is a pyramid-like collection of bones that form the arches of the feet. These include the three cuneiform bones, the cuboid bone, and the navicular bone.
  3. The hindfoot forms the heel and ankle. The talus bone supports the leg bones (tibia and fibula), forming the ankle. The calcaneus (heel bone) is the largest bone in the foot.

Tendons are fibrous connective tissues that attach muscles to bones. There are three major tendons that help facilitate foot movement:

  1. Achilles tendon: This is the most notable tendon of the foot, which runs from the calf muscle to the heel. It is the strongest and largest tendon in the body that makes it possible to run, jump, climb stairs, and stand on your toes.
  2. Tibialis posterior: This tendon attaches the calf muscle to the bones on the inside of the foot and supports the arch of the foot.
  3. Tibialis anterior: This runs from the outer bone of the lower leg to the tarsals and first metatarsal, which enables dorsiflexion.

Ligaments are fibrous connective tissues that connect bone to bone. There are three primary ligaments of the foot:

  1. Plantar fascia: This is the longest ligament of the foot that runs from the heel to the toes to form the arch. The plantar fascia provides strength for walking and assists with balance.
  2. Plantar calcaneonavicular: This is a ligament that connects the calcaneus to the talus. It provides support to the head of the talus, which bears most of the body weight.
  3. Calcaneocuboid: This ligament connects the calcaneus to the tarsal bones. It helps the plantar fascia support the arch of the foot.

Questions or Comments?

We encourage you to contact us whenever you have an interest or concern about our services.

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162 West St Ste K Cromwell, CT 06416