The tarsal bones
General
Seven tarsal bones are distinguished on the foot. These are placed in a body-hugging (proximal) and a distant one (distal) Series subdivided.
The ankle (proximal) tarsal bones are:
- the talus (Talus)
- and the calcaneus (Calcaneus).
In the direction of the toes are the five distal bones:
- Scaphoid (Navicular bone),
- three cuneiform bones (Ossa cuneiformia mediale, intermedium and lateral)
- and the cuboid (Os cuboideum).
The tarsal bones have to support the entire weight of the body with every step and transfer most of it into the ground.
They are in contact via articulated joints and are fixed by various tight ligaments.
The talus (talus)
The talus consists of three different parts:
- one anterior talar head (Caput tali),
- as well as the Talus neck (Collum tali)
- and one Ankle body (Corpus tali).
The Talus head (Caput tali) of the talus is in contact with the navicular bone (Navicular bone) and forms a joint with it. It is completely covered with cartilage and closes the ankle joint towards the front.
Also the Ankle body (Corpus tali) is broken down again into different parts:
- the Ankle roll (Trochlea tali) consists of an upper surface and a surface directed towards the middle and to the side, each of which forms different joint surfaces for the malleolar fork and the articulation with the upper one Ankle joint serve.
- three other articular surfaces on its underside are used for articulation with the navicular bone.
The talus points no starting points for muscles on, but serves as highest tarsal bone, the Power transmission on the arch of the foot.
The heel bone (calcaneus)
The calcaneus is that largest bones of the foot.
Its rear portion is very prominent and is called Calcaneal tuberosity designated. This is as Heel visible and palpable and Attachment point of the Achilles tendon.
The upper parts of the calcaneus together with the talus form the lower one Ankle joint.
Towards the front there is a joint connection to the cuboid bone (Os cuboideum).
The calcaneus is for that upright stance and gait the Pressure point on the heel.
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Athletes (joggers, soccer players, etc.) are particularly often affected by diseases of the foot. In some cases, the cause of the foot discomfort cannot be identified at first.
Therefore, the treatment of the foot (e.g. Achilles tendonitis, heel spurs, etc.) requires a lot of experience.
I focus on a wide variety of foot diseases.
The aim of every treatment is treatment without an operation with a complete restoration of performance.
Which therapy achieves the best results in the long term can only be determined after looking at all of the information (Examination, X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, etc.) be assessed.
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The navicular bone (navicular bone)
The scaphoid bone lies between the talus bone and the three sphenoid bones. The scaphoid bone is articulated with each of these bones. It is also part of the lower ankle.
- Toe phalanx -
Phalanx distalis - Middle toe -
Phalanx media - Metatarsal phalanx -
Phal. proximalis
(1st - 3rd toe bones -
Phalanges) - Metatarsal bones -
Os metatarsi - Inner sphenoid bone -
Medial cuneiform bone - Middle sphenoid bone -
Os cuneiform intermedium - External sphenoid bone -
Os cuneiform laterale - Cuboid - Os cuboideum
- Scaphoid bone - Navicular bone
- Ankle bone - Talus
- Ankle roll - Trochlea tali
- Heel bone - Calcaneus
- Protrusion on 5th metatarsal -
Tuberositas ossis metatarsalis quinti (V)
You can find an overview of all Dr-Gumpert images at: medical illustrations
Three cuneiform bones (ossa cuneiforme)
The three cuneiform bones are in a middle (medial) Bone, a lateral (lateral) and an intermediate (intermedium) Differentiated tarsal bones.
The three cuneiform bones are crucial to that Transverse arch of the foot.
They also educate articulated connections with the metatarsals I-III (Metatarsal bone I- III) and articulate laterally with each other and with the navicular bone.
Furthermore, the lateral sphenoid bone (Os cuneiform laterale) in connection with the cuboid bone and forms a here joint.
The cuboid bone (Os cuboideum)
The cuboid is pyramidal constructed and forms a wide variety of articulated connections:
- To the rear (dorsal) articulates the cuboid bone with the calcaneus (Calcaneus).
- Forward (ventral) are articulated connections with the metatarsals IV and V (Metatarsal bone IV / V) educated.
- In addition, the surface of the cube bone lying in the middle carries an articular surface with the lateral sphenoid bone lying on it (Os cuneiform laterale) to enter into an articulated connection.
Breakage of one or more tarsal bones
A break of one or more Tarsus usually happens as a result of one Accident, Fall or one direct violence, for example by hitting the foot. There are especially those Ankle and heel bone most commonly affected by fractures. As a result, the person affected often feels Pain in the footwhich can be so pronounced that the foot can no longer be loaded. In addition, the foot is usually clear swollen, overheated and reddened. It can be used for Development of a bruise come.
To diagnose the fracture of the tarsus bone will be X-rays made in several planes on which the fracture can be recognized. In some cases a CT or MRI may be necessary to rule out accompanying injuries to the surrounding soft tissues. It must also be checked whether important Nerves in the course of the accident were harmed.
Depending on the severity of the fracture, different therapeutic measures can be used. If it's a simple break acts in which the bone fragments have not shifted against each other, must not necessarily operated on become. In this case, conservative therapy can be tried in which the foot immobilized and with one plaster is stabilized. The foot is allowed for about eight weeks not be charged. Hence will be physiotherapy exercises recommended that the mobility and function of the Muscles to maintain and improve so that the patient can quickly walk normally again after the fracture has healed.
Is the break complicated, the bone parts have shifted against each other or even pieces of bone got into the joint space, like this often has to be operated onto achieve a good therapy result. The bone fragments are put back into theirs anatomically correct position spent and with screws, wires or plates fixed. Even after the operation, the foot can be used for not be burdened for a few weeksso that the bone can heal back together. The physiotherapy exercises are carried out in the same way as for non-surgical treatment of the fracture. In this way, very good results can be achieved in most cases.
Tarsal pain
Tarsal pain can have a number of causes. In particular, if no accident or other obvious injury has occurred, the pain is often inexplicable for those affected. A very common reason for such foot pain is Misalignments of the foot. By little movement, bad footwear and rarely going barefoot the feet of most people are not sufficiently challenged. The Foot muscles develop back and the The arch of the foot is no longer adequately supported. This can result in various foot misalignments, for example a Spread-, Arches or a hallux valgus. These misalignments can then cause pain, as the foot cannot cushion the load optimally.
Foot pain in the tarsal bone area can also occur after overload occur, for example after long walks or Endurance sport for those who are not sufficiently trained. The feet are exposed to heavy loads to which they are not used. This allows the Structures of the foot (Tendons, ligaments, muscles) ignite and Cause pain. The pain usually only occurs after or late in the unusual stressful situation. In addition, it can lead to a so-called Fatigue fracture come when the foot is subjected to heavy loads to which it is not adapted. Often are there Metatarsal bones affected, but other bones in the foot can also break.
Another cause of pain from the Tarsus is a arthrosis. The individual bones of the foot are in contact with one another through articulated connections. As with others Joints of the body, these joints can also be subject to arthritic changes. With this clinical picture exist above all Pain when the person starts walking.
To prolonged running the symptoms often improve. This phenomenon is also called Starting pain designated. Finally, bone tissue can also die - the so-called Osteonecrosis. The tarsal bones at the point of attachment of the metatarsals are often affected. This can very severe pain cause and lead to one Loss of shape the affected Metatarsophalangeal joints.
If you have pain in your foot, you always have to go to one nerve cause the complaints are thought of. By Entrapment of nerves or reactive neoplasms of nerve tissue (so-called neuromas) can cause unpleasant pain, which can express itself in different ways. Also Metabolic diseases how diabetes can affect the nerves in the foot area and cause painful changes in them (Polyneuropathy). When the pain longer than a few days persist, worsen, or have other symptoms (fever, Redness, swelling, general feeling of illness), a doctor should be consulted promptly so that the cause of the complaints can be clarified.
Summary
The seven tarsal bones become divided into two rows:
- The body-hugging (proximal) line consists of the two largest bones of the foot and is instrumental in the Formation of the ankle involved.
- The five distant (distal) Bones are smaller and serve the articulated connection between the proximal row and the Metatarsal bones. They especially serve the Formation of the arch of the foot and the Power transmission on the ground.
Since the tarsal bones have to support your entire body weight with every step, they are very large stable and over tight ligaments among themselves strongly fixed.
In order to be able to remember the individual tarsal bones better, the following sentence applies in the order of the body close (proximal) after body distance (distal):
Jump with the Calcaneus cheerfully in the Boat in, Wedges is there 1,2,3 cheerfully at the Dice egg.
