arches of foot - factors which maintains the arches

3. Human foot performs 2
basic functions:
 Supports the weight
of the body.
 A lever to propel the
body forward during
locomotion.

4. Human foot is designed in the form of
ELASTIC ARCHES
Longitudinal arches Transverse arches
(Medial & Lateral) (Anterior & Posterior)

5.  Proportional distribution of body weight.
 Plantar concavity of the arches protect the plantar vessels & nerves.
 Arched foot acts as a spring board which helps jolting and jumping from a
height (shock absorbers)
Functions of Arches of Foot

6.  Arched foot acts as segmented lever
 Triceps surae act on a simple lever
 Long and short flexors muscles acts on
segmented lever -Exerts their actions on
fore foot, during take-off point
 Lumbricals prevent the toes from buckling
under

7.  Each arch has:
1. Anterior & Posterior ends
2. Summit
3. Anterior & Posterior pillars
4. Joint

8.  Anterior end: Heads of
medial 3 metatarsals
 Posterior end: Medial
tubercle of the
calcaneum
 Summit: Trochlear
upper surface of the
Talus
 Anterior pillar: Shafts
of the medial 3
metatarsals
 Posterior pillar: Medial
part of the calcaneum
 Main joint of the arch:
Talo-calcaneo-navicular)
Medial Longitudinal Arch

9.  Anterior end: Heads of
4th and 5th metatarsals
 Posterior end: Lateral
tubercle of the
calcaneum
 Summit: Facet on the
superior surface of the
Calcaneum
 Anterior pillar: Shafts
of 4th & 5th
metatarsals
 Posterior pillar: Lateral
part of the calcaneum
 Main joint of the arch:
Calcaneo-cuboid
Lateral Longitudinal Arch

10.  Anterior: Heads of the
metatarsals
 Posterior: A complete
transverse arch is formed
when the medial borders of
both feet are approximated
Transverse Arch

11. Shape of the stones
Wedge shaped stones with
thin edge inferiorly
Stone occupying the centre
of the arch is ‘key stone
Maintenance (Mechanism) of Arches of foot

12. Lower edges of stones are
bounded by metal staples
This prevents their
separation when the arch
is weight bearing

13. The use of tie beams
 A tie beam connecting the ends of the bridges prevents separation
of pillars & consequent sagging of arch

14. A suspension bridge
 Multiple supports
suspending the arch from a
cable above the level of
bridge

15. Shape of the bone: Sustentaculum tali holds up the talus. Rounded head of
talus is ‘key stone’
 Intersegmental ties: Spring ligament, Long plantar ligament & dorsal
ligaments
 Tie beams: Medial part of the plantar aponeurosis, Medial part of the
flexor digitorum brevis & longus, Abductor hallucis, Flexor hallucic longus &
brevis
 Sling support: Tibialis posterior, Flexor hallucis longus & digitorum longus
Maintenance of Medial Longitudinal arch

16. Tie beams
Sling support

17.  Shape of the bone: Calcanean angle of the cuboid
 Intersegmental ties: Long & short plantar ligaments, dorsal ligaments
 Tie beams: Lateral part of the plantar aponeurosis, Lateral part of the
flexor digitorum brevis & longus, Abductor digiti minimi, Flexor digiti
minimi brevis
 Sling support: Peroneus longus, brevis & tertius
Maintenance of lateral Longitudinal arch

19.  Shape of the bone: Wedge shaped 3 cuneiforms & bases of middle 3
metatarsals
 Intersegmental ties: Deep transverse ligaments, Dorsal interossei,
Adductor hallucis
 Tie beams: Tendon of peroneus longus
 Sling support: Tendon of Peroneus brevis & tertius on lateral side,
Tendon of tibialis anterior on medial side
Maintenance of Transverse arch

22.  (Patient walks on toes, with the heel raised)
Talipes equinovarus Talipes equinovalgus
 Talipes E.varus – patient walks on the outer border
of the foot (foot is inverted & adducted)
 Talipes E.valgus - patient walks on the inner border
of the foot (foot is everted & abducted)
Talipes Equinus

23. Talipes Equinus
Talipes equinovarus Talipes equinovalgus

24.  Commonest deformity of the foot (Foot is
inverted, adducted & plantar flexed)
Talipes equinovarus (club foot)

25. Talipes Calcaneus
 Patient walks on the heel with the forefoot raised
Talipes calcaneovarus Talipes calcaneovalgus
 Talipes C.varus – patient walks on the outer border
of the foot (foot is inverted & adducted)
 Talipes C.valgus - patient walks on the inner border
of the foot (foot is everted & abducted)

26. Talipes C.valgus

27.  Great toe is adducted
at MP joint Common in
women
Hallux Valgus

28.  Abnormal distribution
of the body weight on
to the arch-
Predesposing factors
for pes planus
 Rapid increase in body
weight
 Loss of tone in leg
muscles from
prolonged standing
 Faulty foot-wear
 Bad walking style
Pes Planus (Flat foot)

29.  Exaggeration of the
longitudinal arch
Toes are dorsiflexed
at MP joint & plantar
flexed at inter-
phalyngeal joint+ pes
cavus = Claw foot
Pes Cavus

30.  Involves lumbricals
Usually affects 2nd
and 3rd toe
MP joint & distal inter
phalyngeal joint are
hyper extended, but
proximal
interphalyngeal joint
is acutely flexed
Hammer toe