The foot and ankle are a complicated joint that is involved in movement and providing balance and stability to our body. In addition to the 33 joints and 26 bones, the foot and ankle joint comprise several ligaments, muscles, and tendons.
Following is an explanation of each of these consisting units explained by our foot and ankle specialist in Mumbai.
The main role of the ankle joint is to connect the leg with the foot and comprises three bones, namely the tibia, fibula, and talus. The tibia (shinbone) and fibula (calf bone) are bones of the lower leg that fuse with the talus, the ankle bone, thereby making the up and down movement of the foot possible.
There are three bony bumps present at the end of the tibia and fibula that participate in forming the ankle joint. These are as follows:
Though the foot acts as a single functional unit, it can be divided into three different parts, the hindfoot, midfoot, and forefoot.
Hindfoot :The hindfoot makes up the ankle and heel and comprises the talus bone and calcaneus or heel bone. The heel bone is the biggest in the foot.
Midfoot : The midfoot is the middle region of the foot that connects the hindfoot to the forefoot. It comprises three different bones: a cuboid bone, a navicular bone, and three cuneiform bones. The navicular bone is present in front of the heel bone, and the cuneiform and cuboid bones are arranged before the navicular bone. These bones are connected together to five metatarsal bones of the forefoot, which form the foot's arch and act as shock absorbers when we walk or run.
Forefoot :Forefoot is also comprised of the toes, also known as digits. The digits are formed by phalanges, three in each toe, except the big toe, which has only two phalanges. In addition, the big toe has two additional tiny round sesamoid bones in the ball of the foot, which helps in the upward and downward movement of the toe.
As already mentioned, there are 33 joints in the ankle and foot. The most important ones are as follows:
The joints of the foot and ankle give support and stability to the body's weight, thereby allowing walking, running, and adapting to uneven ground.
Furthermore, the joint surface of all ankle and foot bones are lined with articular cartilage lines. Articular cartilage is a flexible, thin, tough, and slippery surface that allows easy articulation, increased weight distribution, and shock absorption. The cartilage is lubricated by synovial fluid, which makes the smooth movement of the bones possible.
There are various soft tissues that are responsible for holding our feet and ankle bones in place. Some of them are explained below:
Cartilage It is the flexible, shiny, smooth tissue on the ends of bones and combines to form a joint. Cartilage provides cushioning between the bones and makes smooth movement possible.
Ligaments Ligaments are a group of muscular tissues that connect bones to other bones and keep them in place, thereby making the joints stable. The largest ligament in the foot is the plantar fascia, which originates from the heel bone and extends across the forefoot. It travels along the bottom surface of the foot and maintains a curve shape of the foot. Moreover, the plantar fascia ligament stretches and contracts to provide balance and strength to the foot. In addition, lateral ligaments on the outside of the foot and medial ligaments on the inside provide support and stability and permit the up and down movement of the foot.
Any injury to these ligaments can result in joint instability. Our ankle specialist in Mumbai frequently performs ankle joint repair and replacement surgeries to treat such complex ligament injuries.
There are 20 muscles that make up the foot. The most important muscles are:
In addition to these muscles, smaller muscles are also present in the foot to help the toes curl and lift.
Tendons are the groups of connective tissue fibers that connect muscles to bones. According to our ankle specialist in Mumbai, the Achilles is the biggest and strongest tendon in the foot that is present at the posterior of the lower leg on the sides of the heel bone. Some other tendons include peroneal and anterior and posterior tibialis.
Foot pain occurs from distress induced by certain factors in the foot. It is a common problem experienced by young athletes involved in various activities such as running and jumping.
Know MoreArthritis is inflammation resulting from the degeneration of cartilage in the joint causing joint pain, swelling, and stiffness resulting in restricted movements.
Know MoreThe Achilles tendon is a strong, fibrous cord present behind the ankle that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone.
Know MorePlantar fasciitis refers to inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue that is present at the bottom of the foot.
Know MoreA sprain is the stretching or tearing of ligaments, which connect adjacent bones and provide stability to a joint.
Know MoreAnkle instability is a chronic condition characterised by a recurrent slipping of the outer side of the ankle. It usually results from repeated ankle sprains.
Know MoreAnkle instability is a chronic condition characterised by a recurrent slipping of the outer side of the ankle. It usually results from repeated ankle sprains.
Know MoreThe ankle joint is composed of three bones: the tibia, fibula and talus, which are articulated together.
Know MoreThe foot and ankle in the human body work together to provide balance, stability, movement and propulsion.
Know MoreA bunion is a bony protuberance that appears on the outer surface of the big toe when it angles toward the adjacent toe.
Know MoreA hammertoe is a deformity of a lesser toe (second through fifth toes), where the toe is bent upward at the toe’s middle joint, resembling a hammer.
Know MoreDiabetes is a chronic condition that is characterised by high blood glucose (sugar) levels. Diabetic patients are at a high risk for developing chronic wounds, especially in the feet.
Know MorePeripheral neuropathy is a condition of nerve damage, usually in the lower extremities. It is a complication of uncontrolled diabetes, which results in diminished sensation, and decreased ability to feel pain and temperature in your feet.
Know MoreFlatfoot, also known as “fallen arches” or Pes planus, is a deformity in children’s feet in which the arch that runs lengthwise along the sole of the foot has collapsed to the ground or not formed at all.
Know MoreLimb deformities can be congenital (present at birth) or develop at a later stage because of fracture, infection, arthritis or tumour.
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