Orthopaedic Surgery
The Normal Foot
The foot has a complex musculoskeletal structure, consisting of 26 bones with different shapes and connections. The bones are attached to each other and to the lower leg bones by an integrated meshwork of thick, fibrous structures known as ligaments. The areas in which two bones make contact with each other are lined with smooth, slippery cartilage, allowing them to slide past each other with minimal friction. These areas are the joints and there are many joints in the foot, which collectively allow for movement in the foot and ankle. Most of the movement of the foot occurs in the base of the foot, in a joint formed between 3 bones, known as the talus, calcaneus, and navicular. This joint, also known as the talocalcaneonavicular complex, resembles a ball-and-socket joint. Because of the extensive connections of all the bones of the foot by the ligaments, motion in the foot and ankle joints occurs at all joints simultaneously, with motion in one joint leading to motion in others. At the same time, if motion is limited in one or more joints, motion is limited in many other joints.
