Anatomy study note · Lower limb

Tarsal joints and arches of the foot

The synovial joints between the tarsal bones. Inversion and eversion of the foot take place at the subtalar and transverse tarsal (talocalcaneonavicular + calcaneocuboid) joints. The bones form medial and lateral longitudinal arches and a transverse arch.

Key points

• Inversion/eversion: subtalar + transverse tarsal joints.
• Spring ligament supports the head of the talus.
• Medial arch keystone = talar head; lateral = cuboid.
• Fibularis longus ties the transverse arch.
• Inverters: tibialis anterior + posterior. Evertors: fibularis muscles.
• Joint: from mesenchyme between bone ends.
• Synovial cavity forms in the middle layer.
• Synovial membrane: type A (phagocytic) + type B (secretory) cells.
• Joint surfaces: hyaline cartilage, no perichondrium.

The full note in the atlas also covers

Features · Action · Histology · Development

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Written from

• Snell’s Clinical Anatomy by Regions, 10th ed., ch. 11, PDF pp. 1416–1419, 1420–1427
• Inderbir Singh’s Human Embryology, ch. 10, PDF p. 144
• BRS Cell Biology & Histology, 7th ed., ch. 7, PDF pp. 117–120, 131

More from the lower limb

• Tendo calcaneus
• Tensor fasciae latae
• Tibia
• Tibial nerve
• Tibialis anterior
• Tibialis posterior
• Tibiofibular joints
• Adductor brevis
• Adductor longus
• Adductor magnus
• Ankle joint
• Anterior tibial artery

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