
Where is the tarsal joint?
What are the tarsal joints?
What part of the foot is the tarsal?
Which bone is a tarsal?
What type of joint is the ankle?
What are the carpal and tarsal bones?
How do you identify tarsals?
- Medial (1st) cuneiform (L., cuneus, wedge + forma, shape) – most medial of the 3 cuneiform bones. It's located anterior to the navicular bone.
- Middle (2nd) cuneiform – middle of the 3 cuneiform bones.
- Lateral (3rd) cuneiform – most lateral of the 3 cuneiform bones.
What is a tarsal fracture?
What does a broken tarsal feel like?
What does tarsal mean in medical terms?
(Entry 1 of 2) 1 : of or relating to the tarsus. 2 : being or relating to plates of dense connective tissue that serve to stiffen the eyelids. tarsal.
What is the mid tarsal joint?
The mid-tarsal joint (see Fig. 11.9) is composed of the calcaneal cuboid joint (lateral), and the talocalcaneonavicular joint (medial). Four ligaments are important from the perspective of sports injuries.
What joint separates the midfoot from the rearfoot?
The transverse tarsal joint separates the rearfoot from the midfoot (see Fig. 11.1 ). This extensive joint consists of two separate articulations: the talonavicular joint and the calcaneocuboid joint. This pair of joints allows the midfoot to move independently of the rearfoot (i.e., the calcaneus and talus). The most important feature of this articulation, however, is its ability to perform the most pure form of pronation and supination. (Recall that pronation has nearly equal elements of eversion, abduction, and dorsiflexion; supination has nearly equal elements of inversion, adduction, and plantar flexion.) Fig. 11.17 shows a physical therapist assistant moving a foot through an arc of pronation ( Fig. 11.17A) and supination ( Fig. 11.17B ).
What is the spring ligament?
The plantar calcaneonavicular (spring) ligament is a dense fibroelastic structure running from the sustentaculum tali to the navicular behind its tuberosity. The plantar calcaneocuboid ligament passes from the anterior inferior aspect of the calcaneus to the plantar surface of cuboid behind the peroneal groove.
Can gout attack the ankle?
Rheumatoid conditions, so often affecting the other tarsal joints, are not found in the ankle joint. If it does become inflamed, this occurs only after a long evolution of rheumatoid disease. Exceptions are psoriatic arthritis and gout, which are not uncommon at this joint. In acute arthritis without an apparent precipitating cause, a gout attack must always be suspected, especially if the patient is a middle-aged man. Gout attacks the ankle joint in almost 50% of all gout patients.1 It responds very well to one or two injections with 20 mg of triamcinolone.
What is pattern 3 of Charcot's disease?
Pattern III involves the naviculocuneiform and mid- tarsal joints and is frequently characterized by dislocation of the navicular bone or by disintegration of the naviculocuneiform joints. Sanders and Mrdjenovich 47 reported naviculocuneiform, talonavicular, or calcaneocuboid involvement in approximately 32% of the affected joints (21 of 66 sites) in 28 cases. Very early radiographic changes of impending Charcot's joint destruction may be evidenced by osteolysis of the naviculocuneiform joints. Typical fragmentation, osteolysis, and sharply defined osseous debris are visible on the lateral radiograph (Fig. 12-12). Observation of this finding signals the need for nonweight-bearing cast immobilization of the foot. Ignoring this finding may result in progressive deterioration of the lesser tarsal bones and ultimate collapse of the midfoot.
What is the transverse tarsal joint?
The transverse tarsal joint, also referred to as the midtarsal or Chopart’s joint, crosses the foot horizontally in an S-shaped direction, connecting the hindfoot and midfoot. It is a compound joint composed of two smaller, synovial joints: talonavicular and calcaneocuboid articulations.
Is the transverse tarsal joint functional?
Instead, it is classified as a functional joint that consist s of the aforementioned talonavicular and calcaneocuboid anatomical articulations.
What ligament supports the head of the talus?
The ligament is supported medially by the medial collateral ligament and laterally by the calcaneonavicular ligament. The plantar calcaneonavicular ligament supports the head of talus at the talonavicular joint by allowing it to rest onto a dorsal fibrocartilaginous facet. It also stabilizes the medial longitudinal arch of the foot.
What is the bifurcate ligament?
Bifurcate ligament. The bifurcate ligament consists of two parts: the calcaneonavicular and calcaneocuboid ligaments. The calcaneonavicular ligament (a.k.a. calcaneonavicular part of bifurcate ligament) helps to support the talonavicular joint laterally.
Where is the talonavicular ligament located?
The broad and thin talonavicular ligament is located between the plantar calcaneonavicular and calcaneonavicular ligaments. It extends between the superior, or dorsal surface of the neck of talus and the dorsal surface of the talus. The talonavicular ligament reinforces the talonavicular joint dorsally.
What is the long plantar ligament?
The long plantar ligament lies superficial to the plantar calcaneocuboid ligament and the tendon of fibularis longus muscle on the plantar aspect of the foot. It runs from the anterior calcaneal tubercle to the ridge and tuberosity of cuboid bone, attaching to both of them. It also sends some superficial fibers towards the lateral four metacarpal bases. Therefore, the long plantar ligament spans almost the entire length of the lateral plantar aspect of the foot, reinforcing the plantar aspects of all the respective lateral foot joints, including the calcaneocuboid joint. It also prevents excessive depression of the lateral longitudinal arch of the foot during weight bearing.
What is the function of the plantar calcaneocuboid ligament?
The function of the plantar calcaneocuboid ligament is to strengthen the inferior border of the joint capsule of the calcaneocuboid joint. It also supports the lateral longitudinal arch of the foot during weight loading.
What are the tarsometatarsal joints?
Anatomical terminology. The tarsometatarsal joints ( Lisfranc joints) are arthrodial joints in the foot. The tarsometatarsal joints involve the first, second and third cuneiform bones, the cuboid bone and the metatarsal bones .
What bones are in the foot?
The bones entering into their formation are the first, second, and third cuneiforms, and the cuboid bone, which articulate with the bases of the metatarsal bones. The first metatarsal bone articulates with the first cuneiform; the second is deeply wedged in between ...
What are the dorsal ligaments?
Dorsal ligaments. The dorsal ligaments are strong, flat bands. The first metatarsal is joined to the first cuneiform by a broad, thin band; the second has three, one from each cuneiform bone; the third has one from the third cuneiform; the fourth has one from the third cuneiform and one from the cuboid; and the fifth, one from the cuboid.
What is the transverse tarsal joint?
Transverse tarsal joint: The transverse tarsal joint is actually a combination of the following two joints: Talocalcaneonavicular joint: This synovial joint is for med between the talus and the calcaneus and the navicular bones. It's stabilized by the plantar calcaneonavicular ligament.
What is the talocalcaneonavicular joint?
The talocalcaneonavicular joint is a ball and socket joint: the rounded head of the talus being received into the concavity formed by the posterior surface of the navicular, the anterior articular surface of the calcaneus, and the upper surface of the plantar calcaneonavicular ligament. Where is the transverse tarsal joint?
What is the talonavicular joint?
The talonavicular joint has a continuous joint capsule which contains several ligaments. The dorsal talonavicular ligament is a broad capsular thickening, originating from the dorsal talar neck with a broad insertion to the dorsal, medial and lateral aspects of the navicular bone.
Where is the dorsal talonavicular ligament located?
The dorsal talonavicular ligament is a broad capsular thickening, originating from the dorsal talar neck with a broad insertion to the dorsal, medial and lateral aspects of the navicular bone. The dorsal talonavicular ligament is routinely visualized on sagittal MR images.
How common is ankle sprain?
Ankle sprains are a very common injury, occurring in approximately 1 of 10,000 people per day in the United States. 1 Injury to the lateral collateral ligaments of the ankle is the most common manifestation of this injury pattern. However, injury to the ligaments at the midtarsal or Chopart joint, affecting the talonavicular and calcaneocuboid joints, is a less recognized yet commonly associated injury. 2
What is a midtarsal sprain?
Midtarsal sprains reflect a spectrum of injuries resulting from low-energy trauma to the Chopart joint complex and include both soft-tissue capsuloligamentous injuries and osseous injuries, including ligament sprains or tears, as well as avulsion or impaction fractures, depending on the severity and mechanism of injury. Although midtarsal sprains most commonly result from ankle inversion, eversion injuries are also possible. Each mechanism of injury results in a distinct injury pattern and recognition of these patterns is important for radiologists to provide a unified, accurate diagnosis of a midtarsal sprain.
Is midtarsal sprain a lateral sprain?
Midtarsal sprains are more common than previously realized, but are frequently over looked in the setting of acute lateral ankle sprains. Delayed diagnosis of midtarsal sprains may lead to dysfunction, prolonged pain, and instability. Therefore, it is important for both clinicians and radiologists to be familiar with the patterns of injury and maintain a high degree of suspicion, particularly in patients imaged in the acute or subacute setting following presumed lateral ankle sprains. This may allow a timely diagnosis of this injury and allow appropriate treatment to be initiated.
What is the Chopart joint?
The Chopart joint complex, also known as the midtarsal or transverse tarsal joint, is located between the hindfoot and midfoot and consists of two functionally distinct units: the talocalcaneonavicular (most often simply called the talonavicular) and calcaneocuboid joints. The joint is named after François Chopart, a French surgeon credited with describing and pioneering an anatomically and functionally convenient method for treating gangrene of the foot by disarticulation at the transverse tarsal joint. Although still used today, midtarsal disarticulation results in severe ankle instability as most of the tendons traversing the ankle lose their insertions, causing marked hindfoot malalignment. 8 Interestingly, François Charcot was most accomplished as a pioneer of urologic surgery.
What is the calcaneocuboid joint?
This articulates with the proximal surface of the cuboid bone which has a complementary articular surface. With this configuration, the calcaneocuboid joint is one of the least mobile in the foot, helping to stabilize the midfoot during gait. 10

Overview
Anatomy
- The tarsal bones articulate (attached by joints) with the bones of the metatarsus, a group of five long bones located between the tarsal bones and the phalanges (toe bones). The tarsus meets the ankle joint above, which connects to the tibia and fibula bones of the leg.2
Movement
- Movements that involve the tarsal bones include: 1. Inversion: The foot is tilted towards the body so that the sole of the foot faces inward toward the middle line of the body. 2. Eversion:The foot is tilted away from the body so that the sole of the foot faces outward, away from the middle line of the body. 3. Plantar Flexion: The toes of the foot point down. 4. Dorsiflexion: The foot tilts upwar…
Pronation and Supination
- Supination and pronation are movements that your foot makes while it strikes the ground during active motion, such as while running. 1. Pronation:This movement describes landing on the outer side of the heel and the inward rolling and flatting of the foot. This is a normal and necessary movement of the foot while walking or running. Abnormal conditions can occur in which the pro…
Tarsal Fractures
- A tarsal fracture is a fracture of any of the tarsal bones of the foot. They are rare and can occur from impact injuries or due to force from repetitive actions. Stress fractures or hairline fractures most often affect the calcaneus or navicular bones.5
A Word from Verywell
- At any age and activity level, taking care of your feet is important. This means staying active, avoiding banging on hard surfaces or excessively repetitive activities, and wearing footwear that gives you the support and cushioning you need.