arches of foot are important for walking, running and weight bearing. if they are deformed various conditions occur such as pes cavus, pes planus etc.

1. Arches of foot
Dr. Suresh Managutti MBBS MD Anatomy
Associate Professor
Dept of Anatomy
SDM College of Medical Sciences & Hospital, Dharwad

2. Arches of foot
• Longitudinal arches- medial and lateral
• Transverse arches- anterior and posterior

3. Foot print showing weight bearing points of sole

4. Supports of a stone bridge

5. Bones forming arches of foot

6. Foot as a segmented lever

7. Bones forming medial longitudinal arch – superior view

8. Bones forming medial longitudinal arch – lateral view

9. Medial longitudinal arch

10. Bones forming lateral longitudinal arch – lateral view

11. Lateral longitudinal arch

12. Factors maintaining medial longitudinal arch

13. Slings- PL, TA

14. Insertion- of TP & PL

15. Medial longitudinal arch Lateral longitudinal arch
Features Higher, more mobile, resilient, shock absorber Lower, limited mobility, transmits weight, rigid
Anterior end 1st, 2nd ,3rd metatarsal heads 4th , 5th metatarsal heads
Posterior end Medial tubercle of calcaneum Lateral tubercle of calcaneum
Summit Superior articular surface of talus Superior articular surface of calcaneum
Anterior pillar Talus, navicular, cuneiforms, 1-3 metatarsals Cuboid, 4th , 5th metatarsals
Posterior pillar Medial half of calcaneum Lateral half of calcaneum
Key stone Talus Cuboid
Main joint Talocalcaneonavicular joint Calcaneocuboid joint
Intersegmental
ties
Spring ligament Long and short plantar ligaments
Tie beams Medial part of plantar aponeurosis, Abductor
hallucis, FHB, medial part of FDB
Lateral part of plantar aponeurosis, Abductor Digiti
Minimi, Lateral part of FDB
Slings TP, FHL, FDL PL, PB
Suspension Sling formed by TA & PL Sling formed by TA & PL

16. Anterior transverse arch Posterior transverse arch
Formation Heads of 1st to 5th metatarsals Navicular, cuneiforms, bases and shafts of
metatarsals
Features Complete Incomplete – half dome raised medially
Bony factor Round shaped Wedge shaped
Intersegmental ties Dorsal interossei muscles Dorsal interossei muscles
Tie beams Adductor hallucis, deep transverse metatarsal
ligaments
FHB, intertarsal and tarsometatarsal
ligaments
Slings PL & TP PL & TP

17. Hallux valgus

18. Hammer Toe- MP & DIP hyperextended, PIP- flexed

19. Tarsal dome

20. Pes planus- flat foot

21. Pes cavus- exaggerated arches- causes Spina
bifida and poliomyelitis

22. Deformities of foot- foot prints

23. Deformities of foot- foot prints

24. Congenital Talipes Equino Varus (CTEV)