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Learn more about "Foot"
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Foot
The '''foot''' is an anatomical structure found in many vertebrates. It is the terminal portion of a limb which bears weight and allows Animal locomotion|locomotion. In many animals with feet, the foot is a separate organ at the terminal part of the leg made up of one or more segments or bones, generally including claws or nails.
Human foot
Anatomy
The human foot and ankle is a strong and complex mechanical structure containing 26 bones, 33 joints (20 of which are actively articulated), and more than a hundred muscles, tendons, and ligaments.[Podiatry Channel, ''Anatomy of the foot and ankle'']
An anthropometric study of 1197 North American adult Caucasian males (men age 35.5 years) found that a man's foot length was 26.3 cm with a standard deviation of 1.2 cm.Skeleton
- tibia, fibula
- Tarsus (skeleton)|tarsus: Talus bone|talus, calcaneus, Cuneiform (anatomy)|cuneiformes, Cuboid bone|cuboid, and Navicular bone|navicular
- metatarsus: First metatarsal bone|first, Second metatarsal bone|second, Third metatarsal bone|third, Fourth metatarsal bone|fourth, and fifth metatarsal bone
- Phalanges of the foot|phalanges
There can be many sesamoid bones near the metatarsophalangeal joints, although they are only regularly present in the distal portion of the first metatarsal bone.[Platzer 2004, p 220]
=Arches=
The human foot has two longitudinal arches and a transverse arch maintained by the interlocking shapes of the foot bones, strong ligaments, and pulling muscles during activity. The slight mobility of these arches when weight is applied to and removed from the foot makes walking and running more economical in terms of energy. As can be examined in a footprint, the medial longitudinal arch curves above the ground. This arch stretches from the heel bone over the "keystone" ankle bone to the three medial metatarsals. In contrast, the lateral longitudinal arch is very low. With the cuboid serving as its keystone, it redistributes part of the weight to the calcaneus and the distal end of the fifth metatarsal. The two longitudinal arches serve as pillars for the transverse arch which run obliquely across the tarsometatarsal joints. Excessive strain on the tendons and ligaments of the feet can result in fallen arches or flat feet.
[Mareb-Hoehn 2007, pp 244-45]
Muscles
The muscles acting on the foot can be classified into extrinsic muscles, those originating on the anterior or posterior aspect of the lower leg, and intrinsic muscles, originating on the dorsal or plantar aspects of the foot.
=Extrinsic=
All muscles originating on the lower leg except the popliteus muscle are attached to the bones of the foot. The tibia and fibula and the interosseous membrane separate these muscles into anterior and posterior groups, in their turn subdivided into subgroups and layers.
[Platzer 2004, p 256]
Anterior group
Extensor group: Tibialis anterior muscle|tibialis anterior originates on the proximal half of the tibia and the interosseous membrane and is inserted near the tarsometatarsal joint of the first digit. In the non-weight-bearing leg tibialis anterior flexes the foot dorsally and lift its medial edge (supination). In the weight-bearing leg it brings the leg towards the back of the foot, like in rapid walking. Extensor digitorum longus muscle|Extensor digitorum longus arises on the lateral tibial condyle and along the fibula to be inserted on the second to fifth digits and proximally on the fifth metatarsal. The extensor digitorum longus acts similar to the tibialis anterior except that it also dorsiflexes the digits. Extensor hallucis longus muscle|Extensor hallucis longus originates medially on the fibula and is inserted on the first digit. As the name implies it dorsiflexes the big toe and also acts on the ankle in the unstressed leg. In the weight-bearing leg it acts similar to the tibialis anterior.
[Platzer 2004, p 258]
Peroneal group: Peroneus longus muscle|peroneus longus arises on the proximal aspect of the fibula and Peroneus brevis muscle|peroneus brevis below it on the same bone. Together, their tendons pass behind the lateral malleolus. Distally, peroneus longus crosses the plantar side of the foot to reach its insertion on the first tarsometatarsal joint, while peroneus brevis reaches the proximal part of the fifth metatarsal. These two muscles are the strongest pronators and aid in plantar flexion. Longus also acts like a bowstring that braces the transverse arch of the foot.
[Platzer 2004, p 260]
Posterior group
The '''superficial layer''' of posterior leg muscles is formed by the triceps surae and the Plantaris muscle|plantaris. The triceps surae consists of the Soleus muscle|soleus and the two heads of the Gastrocnemius muscle|gastrocnemius. The heads of gastrocnemius arise on the femur, proximal to the condyles, and soleus arises on the proximal dorsal parts of the tibia and fibula. The tendons of these muscles merge to be inserted onto the calcaneus as the Achilles tendon. Plantaris originates on the femur proximal to the lateral head of the gastrocnemius and its long tendon is embedded medially into the Achilles tendon. The triceps surae is the primary plantar flexor and its strength becomes most obvious during ballet dancing. It is fully activated only with the knee extended because the gastrocnemius is shortened during knee flexion. During walking it not only lifts the heel, but also flexes the knee, assisted by the plantaris.
[Platzer 2004, p 262]
In the '''deep layer''' of posterior muscles Tibialis posterior muscle|tibialis posterior arises proximally on the back of the interosseous membrane and adjoining bones and divides into two parts in the sole of the foot to attach to the tarsus. In the non-weight-bearing leg, it produces plantar flexion and supination, and, in the weight-bearing leg, it proximates the heel to the calf. Flexor hallucis longus muscle|flexor hallucis longus arises on the back of the fibula (i.e. on the lateral side), and its relatively thick muscle belly extends distally down to the flexor retinaculum of foot|flexor retinaculum where it passes over to the medial side to stretch across the sole to the distal phalanx of the first digit. The Popliteus muscle|popliteus is also part of this group, but, with its oblique course across the back of the knee, does not act on the foot.
[Platzer 2004, p 264]
=Intrinsic=
On the '''back''' (top) '''of the foot''', the tendons of Extensor digitorum brevis muscle|extensor digitorum brevis and Extensor hallucis brevis muscle|extensor hallucis brevis lie deep to the system of long extrinsic extensor tendons. They both arise on the calcaneus and extend into the dorsal aponeurosis of digits one to four, just beyond the penultimate joints. They act to dorsiflex the digits.
[Platzer 2004, p 268]
Similar to the intrinsic muscles of the hand, there are three groups of muscles in the '''sole of foot''', those of the first and last digits, and a central group:
Muscles of the Hallux|big toe: Abductor hallucis muscle|abductor hallucis stretches medially along the border of the sole, from the calcaneus to the first digit. Below its tendon, the tendons of the long flexors pass through the Tarsal tunnel|tarsal canal. It is an abductor and a weak flexor, and also helps maintain the arch of the foot. Flexor hallucis brevis muscle|flexor hallucis brevis arises on the medial cuneiform bone and related ligaments and tendons. An important plantar flexor, it is crucial for ballet dancing. Both these muscles are inserted with two heads proximally and distally to the first metatarsophalangeal joint. Adductor hallucis muscle|Adductor hallucis is part of this group, though it originally formed a separate system (see contrahens.) It has two heads, the oblique head originating obliquely across the central part of the midfoot, and the transverse head originating near the metatarsophalangeal joints of digits five to three. Both heads are inserted into the lateral sesamoid bone of the first digit. Adductor hallucis acts as a tensor of the plantar arches and also adducts the big toe and then might plantar flex the proximal phalanx.
[Platzer 2004, pp 270-72]
Muscles of the Fifth toe|little toe: Stretching laterally from the calcaneus to the proximal phalanx of the fifth digit, Abductor digiti minimi muscle (foot)|abductor digiti minimi form the lateral margin of the foot and is the largest of the muscles of the fifth digit. Arising from the base of the fifth metatarsal, Flexor digiti minimi muscle|flexor digiti minimi is inserted together with abductor on the first phalanx. Often absent, Opponens digiti minimi muscle|opponens digiti minimi originates near the cuboid bone and is inserted on the fifth metatarsal bone. These three muscles act to support the arch of the foot and to plantar flex the fifth digit.
[Platzer 2004, p 272]
Central muscle group: The four Lumbrical muscle (foot)|lumbricales arise on the medial side of the tendons of flexor digitorum longus and are inserted on the medial margins of the proximal phalanges. Quadratus plantae muscle|Quadratus plantae originates with two slips from the lateral and medial margins of the calcaneus and inserts into the lateral margin of the flexor digitorum tendon. It is also known as flexor accessorius. Flexor digitorum brevis muscle|Flexor digitorum brevis arise inferiorly on the calcaneus and its three tendons are inserted into the middle phalanges of digits two to four (sometimes also the fifth digit). These tendons divide before their insertions and the tendons of flexor digitorum longus pass through these divisions. Flexor digitorum brevis flexes the middle phalanges. It is occasionally absent. Between the toes, the Dorsal interossei muscles (foot)|dorsal and Plantar interossei muscles|plantar interossei stretch from the metatarsals to the proximal phalanges of digits two to five. The plantar interossei adducts and the dorsal interossei abducts these digits and are also plantar flexors at the metatarsophalangeal joints.
[Platzer 2004, p 274]
Medical aspects
Due to their position and function, feet are exposed to a List of disorders of foot and ankle|variety of potential infections and injuries, including athlete's foot, bunions, Ingrown nail|ingrown toenails, Morton's neuroma, plantar fasciitis, plantar warts and stress fractures. In addition, there are several genetic disorders that can affect the shape and function of the feet, including a club foot or flat feet.
This leaves humans more vulnerable to medical problems that are caused by poor leg and foot alignments. Also, the wearing of shoes, sneakers and boots can impede proper alignment and movement within the ankle and foot. For example, high heels are known to throw off the neutral spine|natural weight balance (this can also affect the lower back). For the sake of posture, flat soles and heels are advised.
A physician|doctor who specializes in the treatment of the feet practices podiatry and is called a podiatrist. A pedorthist specializes in the use and modification of footwear to treat problems related to the lower limbs.
Evolutionary variations
A paw is the soft foot of a mammal, generally a quadruped, that has claws or nails. A hard foot is called a hoof.
Depending on style of locomotion, animals can be classified as plantigrade (sole walking), digitigrade (toe walking), or ungulate (nail walking).
The metatarsals are the bones that make up the main part of the foot in humans, and part of the leg in large animals or paw in smaller animals. The number of metatarsals are directly related to the mode of locomotion five digits being the most primitive setup, with many larger animals having their digits reduced to two (elk, cow, sheep) or one (horse). The metatarsal bones of feet and paws are tightly grouped compared to, most notably, the human hand where the thumb metacarpal diverges from the rest of the metacarpus.
[France 2008, p 537]
See also
- Flat feet
- Foot binding
- Foot fetishism
- Foot gymnastics
- Foot washing
- Footsie
- Gait analysis
- Pes cavus
- Sole (foot)
Notes
References
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External links
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- Anatomical illustrations
Category:Foot|*
simple:Foot
fiu-vro:Labajalg
zh-yue:腳
Related Images- A human foot; label three is the instep. Enlarge to view legend.
- Anterior leg muscles.
Sources: StartLearningNow, Wikipedia | Usage license: GNU FDL
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