arches of foot

Question 1

Classify the arches of the foot and their overall function

Answer 1

There are 2 longitudinal arches (medial and lateral) and 1 transverse arches.

Functions:
1. Shock absorbers
2. Distribute the weight
3. Enables the foot to adapt to changes in the contour of the ground

Question 2

Explain the formation, functions and factors maintaining the medial longitudinal arch

Answer 2

Formation:
A. end → 1-3 metatarsals
P. end → Medial tubercle of calcaneum
Summit → Superior articular surface of body of talus
A. pillar → Talus, navicular, three cuneiform bones and 1-3 metatarsals
P. pillar → medial part of calcaneum
Main joint → Talocalcaneonavicular joint

Functions:
1. More resilient
2. More mobile

Stabilized by:
1. Shape of bones (mainly the talus)
2. Slings → The muscles of the posterior compartment, tibialis anterior, and peroneus longus
3. Intersegmental ties → spring ligament
4. Tie beams → the plantar aponeurosis, medial part of flexor digitorum brevis, and abductor hallucis.

Question 3

Explain the formation, functions and factors maintaining the lateral longitudinal arch

Answer 3

Formation:
A. end → heads of 4-5 metatarsal
P. end → Lateral tubercle of calcaneum
Summit → articular facet on superior surface of calcaneum
A. pillar → cuboid bone and the 4th and 5th metatarsal bones
P. pilla → Lateral part of calcaneum
Main join → Calcaneocuboid joint

Function:
1. Rests on the ground when standing
- Since it is flatter than the medial arch

Stabilizing factors:
1. Shape of bones (cuboid is the keystone)
2. Slings → peroneus longus and brevis, tibialis anterior
3. Intersegmental ties → Long and short plantar ligaments
4. Tie beams → plantar aponerosis, abductor digiti minimi, and lateral part of flexor digitorum brevis.

Question 4

Explain the formation, functions and factors maintaining the transverse arch.

Answer 4

Formation:
A. → Complete and formed by the head of metatarsals
P. → Incomplete and is formed by the tarsus and matatarsus
Bones → Cuboid, cuneiforms, and the base of the metatarsals

Stabilizing factors:
1. Shape of bones
2. Suspensions → Fibularis longus and tibialis posterior
3. Tie beams → Plantar aponeurosis, long plantar ligament, plantar calcaneocuboid, plantar calcaneonavicular ligaments

Question 5

Explain the applied anatomy of the arches of the foot

Answer 5

1. Flexible flatfoot
   → Onl when weight bearing
   → Because of degenerated ligaments
   → Common in childhoor and may persist asymptomatically in adults
2. Rigid flatfoot
   → Flat even when not weight bearing
   → If present from childhoor, it is a result of bone deformity
3. Pes Cavus
   → Plantar flexion at transverse tarsal joint
   → Dorsi-flexion at MTP joint
   → Plantar flexion at IP joint
   → Idiopathic causes
4. Club foot (Talipes)
   → Equinus (walks on ball), Calcaneus (on heel), varus (on lateral side), valgus (on medial side)
   → Due to wearing of heels
   → Talipes equinovarus (most comon, 2 per 1000). This is a congenital problem and causes the foot to be twisted out of position.