How the human foot works: anatomy, “weak points”, possible diseases and their prevention. Human foot structure: diagrams and diseases of organs and bones, muscle points with Photos and treatment Why flat feet develop

Having a complex structure, the bones of the foot together provide important functions. Among the main tasks are adaptation to the surface, ensuring movement, and a soft and elastic gait. Pathology or injury to any of the elements of this system will have a detrimental effect on the remaining components of this part of the limb.

Functions and structure

The human foot is a complex structure necessary to maintain an upright body position, absorb the force of contact with the ground when walking (about 70%), and move on a wide variety of surfaces. This organ consists of 26 bones, differing in structure and appearance, connected to each other by muscles and ligaments.

A person can be born with extra bones, which usually do not cause direct or indirect harm to the person.

The connection of bone structures with each other is the function of joints, ensuring the integrity and mobility of the skeleton, the consistency of the movement of individual elements and the ability to perform complex gestures. A joint is a connection of bones that is capable of moving its parts relative to each other while remaining intact. The surfaces involved in the formation of the connection are covered with cartilaginous tissue of extremely low roughness. The space between the bones is filled with lubricating joint fluid, which facilitates gliding. All elements are enclosed in a joint capsule, which protects the system from violation of the integrity and damage to its components.

Leg joints are often injured. A fall or poor positioning of the leg can lead to a dislocation or fracture. To avoid complications, you should entrust the treatment of such injuries to a qualified specialist. The structure of the bones of the foot is described in detail below.

The foot is divided into three functional parts:

Distal - toes, consisting of small movable elements.
The metatarsus is the middle fragment, which is made up of long bones similar to each other.
The tarsus is a complex supporting section.

The fingers are made up of phalanges - short tubular bones. Similar to the structure of the upper limbs, the big toes contain 2 phalanges, and the rest have 3. The base of the toe is made up of: proximal, middle and distal (ungual) bones. Often the little toes contain 2 phalanges due to the fusion of the nail and middle. The bones of the fingers have a cylindrical body, crowned at one end by the proximal epiphysis (base) and on the other by the distal epiphysis (head). The latter has a tubercle. The heads of the proximal and middle phalanges are block-shaped.

The base of the proximal phalanx has a depression to form the metatarsophalangeal joint with the corresponding metatarsal bone. The role of these joints is to partially ensure flexion and extension of the fingers, as well as some abduction and adduction. The phalanges of each individual finger are connected by trochlear interphalangeal joints, allowing the fingers to flex and extend.

The metatarsophalangeal joints experience significant stress, which increases the risk of diseases.

The metatarsal bones (long, tubular, 5 in number) form a transverse arch, softening cyclic shock loads when walking, jumping and running. The first metatarsal bone of the foot (counting from the first toe) is the widest and shortest, the second is longer than all the others. The shape of all metatarsal bones is similar: the triangular body ends at one end with a relatively massive base (proximal epiphysis), at the other end with a head flattened on the sides (distal). The metatarsal bones are well palpated from the back of the foot, covered with a relatively small layer of soft tissue. The body of the bones bends slightly upward. From below, the base has a palpable tuberosity.

The heads of the bones have sphere-like articular surfaces that contact the proximal phalanges of the fingers. The lateral articular platforms on the bases enter the intermetatarsal joints, the posterior ones form articulations with the tarsal bones.

The first and fifth metatarsophalangeal joints contain sesamoid bones - small additional round or disc-shaped formations. Sesamoid bones can also be found at the interphalangeal joint of the first finger, on the inferior side of the cuboid bone.

The first metatarsophalangeal joint is often subject to arthrosis. The distortion of its shape is due to the formation of a bone growth on the outer edge of the metatarsus bone

The bones of the foot in this area have different shapes, their anatomy is quite complex. The tarsus has 2 rows - distal and proximal. The size of the tarsal bones of the human foot is associated with heavy loads due to upright walking. The only one directly connected to the lower leg is the talus bone of the foot; the remaining fragments of this section increase the arch of the foot. Each of the components of the foot skeleton is discussed in more detail below.

The lateral section of the distal row contains 5 bones.

The cuboid bone found its place at the outer (lateral) edge of the foot in the space limited partly by the calcaneus and lateral cuneiform, and partly by the metatarsals. The groove marked underneath the bone is made for the muscle tendon. In front, the bone has a surface for the IV and V metatarsal bone formations, divided by a ridge. At the back it contacts the calcaneus, for which there is a saddle-shaped surface and a calcaneal process. The articular platforms on the medial side are intended for the adjacent tarsal bones.
The navicular bone of the foot is located at its inner edge. The ends of the formation are flattened, the upper surface is arched, and the lower surface is sunken. On the lateral edge there is a small area in contact with the cuboid bone. The oval depression of the posterior part of the scaphoid bone with the corresponding convexity of the talus creates the joint of the same name. The anterior surface bears articular facets for the three sphenoid bones, and ridge-like processes lie between them. The listed fragments form a sedentary sphenoid joint.
Wedge-shaped formations owe their name to their appearance. In the direction from the outer rib there are: medial (largest), intermediate (smaller) and lateral (average of three in size) bones. Their dorsal parts are attached to the scaphoid bone. The cuneiform, cuboid, and metatarsal joints form the tarsometatarsal joints. This system, due to many ligaments, is quite rigid and forms a solid base of the foot.

The proximal row includes fairly large structures: the talus and calcaneus. Their sponginess makes them resistant to heavy loads.

The talus is a massive body facing the heel, flows into a more refined part - the neck, ending in an oval head, “looking” towards the fingers. The formation on the upper body is called a block. The upper articular platform of the block is of complex shape, connected to the lower part of the tibia. The lateral (outward-facing) and medial (inner) sides of the block are attached to the ankles. This formation is a component of the ankle, the role of which is to ensure flexion and extension of the leg. This is a powerful connection, but due to the loads it perceives, it often gets injured or becomes ill, which significantly complicates life with severe pain when moving. The tip of the head of the talus, which has a spherical articular formation, is in contact with the scaphoid bone. Two, located below and separated by a transverse groove, are intended for docking with the heel bone. The talus and calcaneus at the point of connection with each other form the subtalar joint - cylindrical, with an axis of rotation in the sagittal plane. Dysfunction of this connection increases the risk of leg injury due to forced redistribution of loads.
The calcaneus is located in the posterior tarsus on the plantar side. Continuing the vertical axis of the human body, it carries almost all of its mass. This is the largest, strongest and heaviest bone in the foot. It is oblong, flattened on the sides, the main parts are the body and the tubercle (thickening at the rear end), which are easy to palpate. The anterior protruding fragment of the medial part of the bone provides support for the talus. A long recess on the lateral side is provided for the muscles of the tendon. At the back, the talus bone and the heel protrusion are also cut from top to bottom by a groove; inside it is placed the flexor tendon of the first finger. The lower parts of the tubercle protrude, forming 2 processes - lateral and medial. Below on the tubercle is the calcaneal tubercle.

The occurrence of a “heel spur” can cause gait disturbances due to unpleasant sensations.

The saddle-shaped surface for the cuboid is on the side of the heel closest to the toes, they form the calcaneocuboid joint. The calcaneus is part of the ball-shaped talocaleonavicular joint, strengthened by powerful ligaments. Coupling with the subtalar, it rotates the foot outward and back.

Thanks to these joints, it becomes possible to perform complex leg movements - dance, acrobatic, etc.

From the above it follows that the bones of the human foot have different structures, depending on the tasks assigned to them.

Muscles

The poorly developed muscles of the upper side of the foot perform only extension of the toes, while the plantar muscles perform shock-absorbing functions.

The condition of the muscles affects the functions of the limb: excessive tension or poor development will inevitably affect the joints. The opposite statement is also true: diseases of the skeleton will affect the muscles. Excessive relaxation of the muscles of the foot and lower leg can lead to flat feet.

Tendons and ligaments

Bones are attached to muscles through tendons - elastic tissues that take on excess load when the muscles are stretched. A tendon that is stretched too far can become inflamed.

Ligaments surround the joint, maintaining its integrity. This fabric is quite flexible, but not elastic. A rupture or sprain of a ligament can cause swelling of the injured limb, severe pain and hemorrhage, and limited mobility. Due to ignorance, symptoms can be confused with signs of other types of injuries.

Lack or complete absence of blood supply to the bones leads to osteonecrosis - destruction of bone substance due to the death of “starving” cells. The consequence may be degenerative arthritis.

The large arteries of the leg are the dorsal and posterior tibial. Veins – large (on the inside of the leg), small (on the outside), as well as deep-lying tibial veins. Arteries fill tissues with blood, and veins drain it. Smaller vessels provide blood circulation in individual areas, capillaries connect them to each other. Impaired blood flow leads to tissue depletion of oxygen. The distance from the heart is the reason that the feet are the first to feel the consequences.

Blood supply problems are diagnosed by changes in skin tone, cooling, and the presence of edema. Symptoms often worsen in the late afternoon or after heavy exercise. Varicose veins are also a common disease.

Cartilage

The substance of cartilage smoothes the articular surfaces, providing smooth movements and preventing inflammation that is inevitable due to friction.

Diseases

The foot undergoes regular loads: static when standing or shock during movement. It is no wonder that her injuries and pathological changes are so frequent. In addition to inevitable pain, a symptom of the disease can also be a visible violation of the norm - enlargement of individual epiphyses, swelling, curvature of the fingers. The deformation is especially evident with X-rays. The most common pathologies are discussed below.

The cause of arthrosis is the loss of elasticity of cartilage, which occurs when metabolic processes in the joint are disrupted. Symptoms of the disease: pain when working the joint, a characteristic crunch, swelling around the affected area, disruption of the anatomy of the fingers.

Among the causes of arthrosis are the following:

systemic connective tissue diseases: lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, etc.;
infectious diseases;
allergic reactions;
consequences of dislocations, synovitis (fluid accumulations in the joint cavity), bruises;
metabolic disorders;
tuberculosis, syphilis.

One of the characteristic types of the disease is arthrosis of the first toe. Its development goes through 3 stages.

At the end of or after prolonged exercise, pain occurs, which fades after a long rest. There may be some deviation in the shape of the thumb, which is still minor. When moving, you can hear a crunching sound.
To eliminate increasing pain, take painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs. The big toe is severely curved, which makes choosing shoes difficult.
The pain does not disappear even after using analgesics. The deformity affects the entire foot, impairing its supporting ability.

Another “favorite” place for arthrosis is the ankle. In the later stages, the cartilage tissue is affected and the joint is deformed.

It is possible to slow down the development of arthrosis without resorting to surgical intervention only in the early stages. Control over potential causes of the disease is established, and physiotherapeutic measures are optionally prescribed. Advanced disease is treated surgically: endoprosthetics or more gentle methods - resection of formations, arthroplasty.

Arthrosis, which affects exclusively the joints, resembles another disease with a similar name - arthritis, due to which the body as a whole suffers, and joint diseases are complicating.

Arthritis

Depending on whether the joint is damaged or its pain is caused by other reasons, primary and secondary arthritis are distinguished. The pathology is caused by the same reasons as arthrosis.

Main symptoms of arthritis:

pain;
the affected area or the lower part of the limb swells, the skin turns red;
limb deformity;
in some cases, an increase in temperature is observed, a rash forms, and fatigue overcomes.

Treatment of arthritis is based on eliminating the root cause of the disease, which requires accurate diagnosis and monitoring by specialists. For example, methods of treating systemic diseases of the joints and connective tissue may require a different approach: medication (with drugs like Depos), physiotherapeutic, manual, etc.

There are intermediate conditions between arthrosis and arthritis, bearing symptoms of both, characterized by pain, predominantly aching in nature.

Foot deformities

Pathological changes can be acquired or congenital. The most common distal leg deformities are described below.

The flattening of the foot leads to a weakening of its spring function. The disease may be congenital or develop over time. The causes of acquired flat feet include the following:

excess load, excess weight;
diseases of nerve endings;
past or active diseases: rickets, osteoporosis;
injuries;
poor quality shoes.

There are two types of flat feet.

Transverse is characterized by a decrease in the height of the corresponding arch. All metatarsal heads are in contact with the floor, when only I and V should be.
With longitudinal flatfoot, the entire sole is in contact with the surface. In addition to increased fatigue and pain in the lower extremities, human organs suffer from excessive shock loads.

Clubfoot

In most cases, pathology accompanies a person from birth. Subluxation of the ankle joint leads to a pronounced supinator position of the foot. Its length is shortened. The causes of deviations acquired during life can be injuries to the lower extremities, paralysis, and paresis. Clubfoot, which is congenital, is diagnosed upon examination.

Disease Prevention

The development of pathologies can be partially or completely prevented by taking into account the following recommendations.

Warm-up exercises will prepare the limbs for the upcoming load.
Participating in gentle sports (skiing, cycling, swimming) will help keep the complex system of leg muscles in good shape, which in itself is a good prevention of diseases.
Walking on pebbles, sand, and grass has a beneficial effect on the soles of your feet.
Giving up uncomfortable shoes will benefit your limbs and overall well-being.
Reducing the frequency of wearing high heels will reduce the risk of complications.
Wearing appropriate footwear for sports will reduce the impact on all body systems. These shoes should be changed periodically.
Feet need regular rest, just like the rest of the body.

Some threats to well-being are not obvious, including the dependence of the health of internal organs on the choice of sneakers for a morning run. Some cases require a mandatory visit to the doctor, but to preserve your own health, sometimes it is enough to avoid obviously harmful situations.

The human foot is an invisible but very important cog in the movement system. Every day she has to cope with unimaginable stress. Scientists have calculated that with a fast step, the speed with which it lands is 5 meters per second, that is, the force of collision with the support is equal to 120-250% of body weight. But each of us, on average, takes from 2 to 6 thousand such steps per day!

As a result of evolution, we have an almost perfect device adapted to such tests. Although the foot of a modern person is structurally practically no different from the foot of our ancestor 200-300 years ago, the person himself has changed. He has become taller, heavier, and walks mainly on flat surfaces of asphalt and parquet. He is less mobile and lives much longer than he did a century and a half ago.

Shackled in uncomfortable shoes, our feet are forced to change the biomechanics laid down by nature. Which ultimately leads to various deformities and diseases. In order to trace this relationship, let's first understand the structure of the human foot.

Anatomy of the foot

Externally, the feet are very different: they can be thin and wide, long and short. It happens that the length of the fingers also differs. Thus, there are three types of feet based on the ratio of the lengths of the first two toes.

Foot types

Egyptian The foot is found in the majority of the world's population: their big toe is longer than the index finger. On Greek A very small proportion of people walk on their feet; its distinctive feature is that the second toe is longer than the first. And finally the owners Roman foot types (about a third of the population) have identical thumb and index toes.

Arch of the foot

The arch of the foot is actually three arches - internal, external and anterior. Essentially these are three springs, or arches - two longitudinal and one transverse. The internal longitudinal arch (AL) connects the tubercle of the calcaneus and the head of the first metatarsal bone. The external longitudinal arch (LA) is formed between the tubercle of the heel and the fifth bone of the metatarsus. And the transverse arch (AB) is located perpendicular to them. What we call the height of the rise is precisely determined by the height of the arch of the transverse arch.

Anatomically isolated three departments feet: front, middle and rear. The anterior section is also called the toe or toe; it is formed from the toes and metatarsus. The metatarsus is the five bones that connect the toes to the rest of the foot. The midfoot is an arch formed from several bones: the navicular, cuboid and three cuneiforms. The heel, or posterior section, is formed by two large bones - the talus and calcaneus.

Bones

Incredible but true: our feet contain a quarter of all the bones in the body.

The average person has 26 of them, but very rarely people are born with atavisms in the form of a couple of extra bones. Damage to any of them leads to disruption of the biomechanics of movement of the entire body.

Joints

The movable connection of two or more bones forms a joint. The places where they join are covered with connective tissue - cartilage. It is thanks to them that we can move and walk smoothly.

The most important joints of the leg: the ankle, which works like a door hinge and connects the foot to the leg; subtalar, responsible for motor rotations; wedge-scaphoid, compensating for dysfunction of the subtalar joint. Finally, five metatarsophalangeal joints connect the metatarsus and phalanges of the toes.

Muscles

The bones and joints of the leg are moved by 19 different muscles. The biomechanics of the human foot depends on the condition of the muscles. Overexertion or excessive weakness can lead to abnormal alignment of joints and bones. But the condition of the bones also affects the health of the muscles.

Ligaments and tendons

A tendon is an extension of a muscle. They connect muscles and bones. Despite their elasticity, they can be stretched if the muscle is stretched as far as possible. Unlike tendons, ligaments are not elastic, but are very flexible. Their purpose is to connect joints.

Blood supply

Blood flows to the feet through two leg arteries - the dorsal and posterior tibial. Thanks to them, nutrients and oxygen enter smaller vessels and then through capillaries to all tissues of the foot. The blood with processed products is pumped back through two superficial and two deep veins. The longest, the great saphenous vein, runs from the big toe along the inside of the leg. Small saphenous vein - on the outside of the leg. The tibial veins are located anteriorly and posteriorly on the lower extremities.

Nervous system

With the help of nerves, signals are transmitted between the brain and nerve endings. There are four nerves in the feet - the posterior tibial, superficial peroneal, deep peroneal and gastrocnemius. The most common problems in this area are compression and pinched nerves associated with increased stress.

Functions of the foot

As we noted at the very beginning, the foot copes with important tasks. Knowing its structure, we can already imagine how exactly it helps a person. So the foot provides:

Equilibrium. Thanks to the special mobility of the joints in all planes and maneuverability, the sole adheres to the surface on which we walk: hard, soft, uneven, unsteady, while we can stand or move forward and backward, from side to side and not fall.
Push. The foot not only maintains the balance of the body, but also allows it to make forward movement in any direction. When the heel touches the surface, a reaction occurs to the force of the support, kinetic energy is transferred to the foot, which is stored for the duration of full contact of the sole and the support, and then transferred to the whole body when the tips of the toes are pushed off the ground. This is how the step happens.
Leaf spring. The ability to maintain an arched shape and softly spread out helps the foot absorb most of the impact loads. There is much less impact on the knee and spine, and only 2% of the initial impact reaches the head. Thus, the foot reduces the risk of microtrauma to the overlying ankle, knee, hip joints and spine. If this function is disrupted, then inflammatory processes develop in them, sometimes irreversible.
Reflexivity. A very large number of nerve endings are concentrated in the human foot. Their high concentration in such a small area ensures effective interaction with human reflex zones. This can be used to influence internal organs through massage, acupuncture, and physiotherapy.

In our daily life, the foot performs all these functions alternately. The quality of its work depends on the condition of its bones, joints, muscles and other components. At the slightest violation, a failure begins further up the chain. Even feet with a normal structure from birth have their own limit of strength. With age or during the process of “operation” under the constant influence of static-dynamic loads, certain types of pathologies develop, among which flat feet are the most common. You can extend the life of your foot by proper distribution of loads, regular strengthening exercises and relaxation procedures.

Human feet are a part of the body through which a person moves, maintains balance, and with the help of the foot the body can provide resistance while performing many movements. The process of evolution has made the structure of the foot complex, due to which modern man can walk upright.

The foot consists of 26 bones that are connected by ligaments and joints. There are also many muscles and tendons there. In anatomy, there are three sections of the foot, which will be discussed below.

Foot bones

As you know, the human foot resembles the hands; there are sections that are similar in structure, but they are called differently.

The feet have:

Tarsal bones. This part of the foot consists of seven bones - the calcaneus and talus are large, the rest are wedge-shaped, club-shaped and navicular. The talus is located in the area between the bones of the lower leg and is part of the ankle.
Metatarsus - middle part of the foot. Consists of five tube-shaped bones, they go to the beginning of the fingers. At the end of these bones there is a joint surface that helps the fingers move. Also, this group of bones ensures the correct level of the arch.
The end of the foot is the phalanges of the fingers (rib formation); they are mobile due to the presence of joints between them. There are 14 bones in this part. The thumb consists of two bones, and the rest have 3 in each finger. Due to this part, a person can maintain body balance and perform simple movements. However, there have been many cases where, as a result of the loss of arms, a person maintains his vital functions with the help of his toes.

The bones are connected to each other by joints. The correct structure of the ankle and foot bones is ensured by nerves, blood vessels, ligaments, muscles and joints.

Location of bones

As you know, bones are an important element responsible for structure. They need to be considered in more detail.

The largest bone is the calcaneus, located in the back of the foot and bears a lot of load, this bone partly contributes to the flexibility of both arches. The bone is not part of the ankle, but it distributes pressure. It is shaped like a three-dimensional rectangle with a long axis.

In the front part there are joints that are needed for the strongest connection between the heel and talus bones, which ensures the normal shape of the foot. There is a small protrusion at the back of the bone where the Achilles tendon is attached. The bottom side of the person steps on the ground.

There is also a tubercle in the anterior part for connecting the scaphoid bone to the joint. The entire surface is covered with protrusions and depressions for the attachment of nerves, blood vessels, muscles and ligaments.

Slightly smaller is the talus, which enters the ankle. Almost all of it is covered with cartilage, and what is most interesting is that nothing except ligaments is attached to it. The bone has five surfaces covered with a thin layer of hyaline cartilage.

It consists of a body, head and neck:

body - is part of the ankle, connected to the foot through ligaments and joints;
The head is the front of the bone that has an articular surface. The head provides a strong connection to the boat.
The neck is the thin part located between the head and the body.

Cuboid. Located on the outside of the foot behind the fourth and fifth metatarsal bones. Outwardly, it looks like a cube, which gave it its name.

Scaphoid. Its peculiarity is that it is located on the foot itself and, through joints, is brought together with the talus bone, forming the arch of the foot.

Sphenoid bones. There are three such bones on the human foot; they are small in size and located close to each other (in rib order). Behind them is the navicular bone, and in front of them are the metatarsal bones.

The structure and functions of the metatarsal bones are the same in both adults and children. Anatomical appearance - tube-shaped with an angled bend. This bend forms the arches of the feet. There are tubercles on the surface for attaching ligaments, muscles and joints.

The bones of the phalanges of the fingers are identical to those on the hands, differing only in size. The big toe has two phalanges, the other four toes have three.

Due to the load on the feet, the phalanges of the big toe are thick, while the rest are thin and short. They are connected to each other by joints, thanks to which a person can bend and straighten his fingers.

Structure of joints

The feet have many joints that move several bones together at the same time. Regarding size, the ankle joint is considered the largest; it connects three large bones together. Thanks to this connection, a person can raise and lower the foot, as well as rotate it. All other joints are smaller, but perform the same function, which together makes the foot flexible and mobile.

The ankle joint consists of a large talus and two smaller tibia bones. The latter have ankles that fix the talus. There are strong ligaments along the edges, and the joint itself is attached to the cartilage that covers the surface of the bone.

An important component is the subtalar (transverse) joint, which consists of a low-moving joint and performs the function of the arch of the talus and calcaneus. It connects three bones - the scaphoid, calcaneus and talus; ligaments are also involved in the connection process, contributing to a tighter fixation.

The cuboid and calcaneus bones are connected by the joint of the same name. Together with the subtalar, they form a practical type of education. This joint is sometimes called the "Greek socket" and is known medically as the talonavicular joint.

As for surgical practice, the joints that are located on the scaphoid and sphenoid bones are of least importance. But the metatarsal and tarsal bones are connected by low-moving joints; they are surrounded by elastic ligaments and are part of the transverse and longitudinal arches of the foot. The intermetatarsal joints are located costally in the space between the metatarsal bones.

One of the most important joints are those called metatarsophalangeal joints; they are involved in almost every step or movement of the body when walking.

Foot ligaments

The most important of all is the longitudinal (or long) plantar ligament. The ligament extends from the heel bone and reaches the beginning of the metatarsal bones. It has many branches that perform the function of strengthening and fixing the longitudinal and transverse arches, and also maintains them in normal condition throughout life. But, as you know, violation of the arches of the feet can indicate flat feet, the treatment of which sometimes takes more than one year, especially if it concerns an adult.

The remaining, smaller ligaments also fix and strengthen the bones and joints of the foot, which helps a person maintain body balance and withstand dynamic and static loads during long walking or running.

Any movements of the feet are possible only with the help of the muscles that are located in the area of the foot, ankle and lower leg. The important thing is that the calf muscles help make many movements of the feet, both when walking and in an upright position.

Calf muscles

In the anterior part there is a group of long extensor muscles, the tibialis muscle. A person uses them when performing dorsal extension or flexion of the feet. Thanks to these muscles, a person can straighten and bend his fingers.

The external or lateral group includes the short and long peroneus muscles. With their help, it is possible to perform pronation, as well as lateral flexion of the foot.

The back part is distinguished by massive muscle groups consisting of many layers. They have a huge daily workload. This includes the triceps muscle, which consists of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. This area contains the flexor digitorum longus muscle, the plantaris muscle, and also part of the tibialis muscle. These muscle groups allow plantar flexion to be performed using the Achilles tendon. They are also involved in the process of extension and flexion of the fingers.

The dorsal muscle group contains the extensor digitorum brevis. It originates from the heel and is responsible for the motor activity of the four toes, but does not control the big toe.

On the sole of the foot there are several small muscles responsible for adduction, abduction and flexion of the toes.

Vessels and nerves

The posterior and anterior tibial arteries are responsible for the flow of blood into the human feet. On the foot itself, these arteries continue with the external internal and dorsal arteries located on the plantar part. They also form a small number of arterial connections and circles. And in case of injury of varying severity, when damage occurs to one of the circles, the rest will be able to ensure normal blood flow to the feet.

As for the outflow of blood, it is carried out by the veins of the same name, which are located on the back side. These veins form the webbing. Thanks to them, blood flows into the small and large saphenous veins located in the lower leg.

Nerve impulses from the central nervous system are transmitted along the sural, deep peroneal, superficial and posterior tibial nerves. Thanks to nervous innervation, a person feels movement in space, vibration, pain, touch, and distinguishes between cold and heat. All nerve impulses are processed in the spinal cord.

These same nerves provide signal transmission from the brain to muscle groups. Such impulses are called reflexes, which can be involuntary or voluntary. As for the latter, this is observed when muscle tissue contracts, which does not always depend on the will of the person. The reason for this phenomenon may be the work of the sweat and sebaceous glands, an increase or decrease in the tone of the vascular walls.

The top layer is the skin. The skin on the feet differs depending on the area of the foot. On the sole itself it has a high density, but in the heel area it is thicker. The skin has the same structure as on the palms, but as a result of high loads, it begins to layer with age. In the dorsal area, the skin is quite smooth and elastic, there are nerve endings here.

So, based on everything that has been said above, it becomes clear that nature has made sure that the feet can withstand enormous pressure. The formation of the foot is rarely influenced by a person's nationality or the conditions in which he lives.

If at least one element of the foot is injured, a hyperkeratotic form of mycosis of the feet, deforming osteoarthritis, flat feet, heel spurs and other serious diseases may develop.

This article talks about the structure of the human foot and foot. About what functions they perform. In addition, about foot diseases, as well as their treatment.

Functions of the foot

The main functions of the foot include:

Body weight support;
Shifting body weight.

There are also secondary functions:

Bending the foot back;
Plantar flexion;
Flexion;
Lateral rotation;
Median plane reduction;
Extension.

A person uses his foot to move. Thanks to the foot, all movements are made. The fingers also have the function of feathering. That is, you can lean on your fingers when bending over without disturbing your balance.

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Ideal for both prevention and treatment at home. Has antiseptic properties. Relieves swelling and pain, prevents salt deposition.

Anatomy of the foot

The foot has a rather complex anatomy, which has its own characteristics.

The foot consists of four main parts:

Bones of the foot. They in turn are divided into:

Tarsal bones. They have 7 bones in their section: talus, calcaneus, navicular, cuboid, 3 sphenoid bones. The talus is the largest bone and is responsible for the flexibility of the ankle.
Metatarsal bones. The metatarsus has 5 bones in the section. These bones together resemble a pipe. The ends of the bones go into the fingers. They are the ones who provide the movement of the fingers.
Phalanges of the fingers. Between them there are movable joints. There are 14 bones in this section. All fingers except the thumbs have three bones, and the thumbs have two. Thanks to this department, balance is maintained, as well as the ability to make all sorts of small movements.

Joints of the foot.
Muscles.
Vessels and nerves. They are responsible for the blood supply to the foot.

Joints

There aren't enough bones to move around. You also need joints. The largest joint is the ankle joint. It allows the foot to perform various movements. Other joints don't matter as much, but they are responsible for joint flexibility.

The ankle joint has three bones in its section:

Two shanks. They participate in the formation of the joint;
Ram.

There are also small joints:

Subtalar joint;
Talocalcaneal-navicular joint;
Tarsometatarsal joints;
Metatarsophalangeal joints;
Interphalangeal joints.

Ligamentous apparatus

The most important formation that exists on the foot is the longitudinal or long ligament of the sole. It starts from the heel bone and extends to the metatarsal bone.

It has fibers along its entire length, which diverge in different directions. These fibers help strengthen the arch of the foot and support it throughout life. Thanks to the ligaments, the foot can bear certain loads.

Muscles

Without muscles, movement will not occur. Thanks to their contraction, movement occurs. The left and right feet have the same number of muscles.

They can be divided into the following groups:

Dorsal muscles. They include a short extensor digitorum. It is responsible for the movement of all fingers, not counting the thumbs.
Plantar muscles. There are two of them, they are small in size and are responsible for abduction, adduction and flexion of the fingers.

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Blood supply

To supply blood to the feet, the arteries of the foot come into action. The artery is a continuation of the tibial artery. It begins its journey from the ankle joint, passing between the tendons of the long extensor finger.

At this point, the artery is located on the surface and the pulse can be easily determined.

Branches emanate from the artery:

Dorsal metatarsal artery;
Arcuate artery;
Tarsal artery;
Medial artery;
Lateral artery;
Deep plantar artery.

Each artery is responsible for supplying blood to a specific area

Innervation

Innervation is carried out by the longest branches of the lumbar and sacral region.

Innervation involves:

Saphenous nerve;
Innervating the medial edge of the foot;
Lateral dorsal cutaneous nerve;
Peroneal nerve;
Intermediate dorsal cutaneous nerves;
Deep branch of the peroneal nerve.

All these departments innervate different parts of the foot.

Features of the foot joints

Each joint has its own individual characteristics, for example:

Subtalar joint formed by the calcaneus and talus bones. This formation has the shape of a cylinder;
Talocaleonavicular joint formed by the articular surface of these three bones. Located in front of the subtalar joint. The shape of the joint resembles a ball and has some restrictions in movement;
Calcaneocuboid joint. It is located between the calcaneus and cuboid bones. Has the shape of a saddle. Movement can be carried out exclusively around one axis;
Wedge-scaphoid joint. Five bones take part in its formation: the cuboid, the scaphoid, and the three wedges. The joint is inactive;
Tarsometatarsal joints. These joints connect the bones of the tarsus and metatarsus;
Intermetatarsal joints. They are small in size and connect the metatarsal bones;
Metatarsophalangeal joints formed by five bones that are located at the base of the phalanges of the fingers. The joints are spherical in shape;
Interphalangeal joints of the feet. They connect the proximal phalanges of the fingers with the intermediate ones, and them with the distal ones. They are shaped like blocks. They have a very thin joint capsule.

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Frequent foot diseases

Day after day, a person loads his foot without noticing much attention to it. As a result, injuries may occur, which in turn lead to inflammation and deformation.

Below are the most common foot diseases:

Arthrosis. Most often, the disease occurs in middle-aged women. About forty to fifty years. But there is always an exception. The disease may occur earlier.
The disease most affects the big toe, or more precisely, its metatarsophalangeal joint. In some cases, the disease can be confused with gout due to similar localization.
However, these diseases are completely different.
There are several causes of arthrosis:

Previous foot injuries;
Features of the structure of the feet;
Flat feet;
Excess weight;

The disease has three stages. They proceed very slowly, but make significant progress. With each stage the pain intensifies.

Treatment of the disease must begin at the first stage. This will slow down the development of the disease

Arthritis.
The main causes of arthritis:

Infectious diseases;
Allergy;
Condition after injury;
Systemic diseases;
Diseases of the endocrine system.

With arthritis, you can see the following clinical picture: pain in the affected areas, swelling, redness of the skin over the inflamed area, signs of general intoxication, changes in the foot, and loss of some of its functions.

For treatment, it is necessary to identify the cause of the disease. Treatment should only be prescribed by a doctor. If you self-medicate, you can transform the disease into a chronic form, that is, deformation of the joints of the foot

Foot deformities. This means that changes have occurred in the foot. That is, the shape of the foot has changed. There are several types of foot deformities:

Flat feet. The disease can be either congenital or acquired. Congenital, that is, arose as a result of genetic characteristics.
Acquired flat feet occur as a result of excessive stress on the foot, previous rickets, injuries, excess weight, wearing uncomfortable shoes;
Clubfoot. The disease is common. It is congenital, in some cases it can be acquired. For example, as a result of cuts, paralysis, injuries to the skeleton of the lower extremities. With this disease, the foot is shortened and has a supinated position.

In addition to these deformations, there are others, but they are extremely rare.

These are not all foot diseases. There are a lot of them. For example, tumors, injuries and similar diseases. It follows from this that if you have at least one suspicious symptom, you should consult a specialist.

Diagnostics

To determine the disease, it is necessary to conduct a diagnosis.

To do this you will need the following:

Collecting the patient's medical history. This will help identify whether a similar disease has occurred in the past, as well as a genetic factor;
Objective examination;
Subjective examination;
Radiography.

Why does flat feet develop?

The reasons for the development of flat feet can be divided into two main groups:

Internal reasons;
External reasons.

Internal causes include features of the development of the musculoskeletal system, for example:

Weak connective tissue;
Weakened muscular-ligamentous apparatus;
Genetic predisposition;
Weak physical activity.

External factors include environmental factors, for example:

Severe and prolonged physical loads on the feet;
Excess weight, obesity or pregnancy;
Uncomfortable shoes. Therefore, women are much more likely to suffer from flat feet than men.
There is no comfort in shoes with heels higher than 4 centimeters, and this leads to the development of flat feet - heels higher than four centimeters. However, this does not mean that running shoes cannot lead to flat feet.

Prevention of foot diseases

Today it is very common to encounter foot diseases, especially for older people. This happens because a person places more stress on the feet.

In addition to the load, other factors also affect the foot. For example, tight and uncomfortable shoes, as well as excess weight. It is much easier to prevent a disease than to treat it.

To prevent the disease, the following preventive measures must be observed:

You should wear special insoles and arch supports;
You need to wear shoes with low heels about 3-4 cm;
Actively engage in physical education;
Do not put unnecessary stress on the foot.

However, if the disease has already occurred, It is necessary to do massage and perform therapeutic exercises. In addition, it is necessary to take salt baths. This will significantly speed up the healing process.

In any case, the main element is care. It is necessary to treat your legs and feet as carefully as possible. This will prevent the development of various foot diseases.

The foot is so complex in structure and, despite its small size, performs such important functions that it could well be considered the eighth wonder of the world. Almost everything connected with it is amazing: its small size and ability to keep the human body in balance, complex connections and the reflex work of its departments.

The foot ensures a person’s ability to move, stand, and get up from a sitting position. It is responsible for the safety of the main element of the skeleton - the spine. It is often called the foundation of the body, and a lot depends on it, as on the foundation of any structure.

This is one of the centers of concentration of biologically active points. Which, by the way, explains the almost guaranteed cold if you get your feet wet: the pads of her toes are connected to the maxillary sinuses.

Understanding the anatomy of the foot is useful for anyone who is interested in their health and the health of their family members. By preventing pathologies of this department - one of the most important - it is possible to prevent many serious diseases, disorders, and age-related changes in the skeleton.

General description of the foot

Anatomically, the foot is the lowest part of the leg and is responsible for walking upright. This department in official medicine is called “distal” - from the Latin disto, “settle” (since it is as far away as possible from the center of gravity of the body).

The foot is formed by 30+ joints, 26 bones, and a ligament/tendon/nerve system. Nineteen muscles provide movement of the feet. Of these, five relate directly to its structure. The rest, although involved in the functionality of the lower section, belong to the muscles of the lower leg.

The main sections of the foot: the rear (upper part), the sole (the part on which we rest), the heel area (the section with the heel tubercle, covered with especially thick skin). The rear part is protected by connective tissue - fascia. The sole is reinforced with an aponeurosis - a wide elastic plate of tendons.

When placed on the surface, the foot rests on three support points:

thumb (first metatarsal head);
head of the 5th metatarsal bone (little finger);
base of the calcaneal tubercle.

These supports are interconnected by a system of arches that form the transverse arch of the foot. It and its location relative to the axis are important characteristics in diagnosing its normal structure.

Upright walking

Man gained the ability to walk upright, supported by his feet, thanks to evolution. There are, however, several theories as to what prompted the straightening of the spine. Some scientists believe that initially evolutionary forms moved on four limbs. But then the knuckles should still show signs of increased stress. Plus, scientists have never been able to find fossilized skeletons of a human predecessor that directly prove this assumption.

According to another theory, people mastered upright posture thanks to the habit of climbing trees, clinging to branches with their hands (they moved their bodies with their legs). According to her, even then their actions largely repeated the process of modern locomotion - movement.

The walking mechanics themselves are based on repeating 1.2 second cycles (double steps). In these fractions of a second, a person manages to go through four stages (two for each leg).

Support phase. It alternates between support on two legs and one.
Swing phase.

The walking process looks like this:

Standing on two legs, a person raises one of them to take a step.
The body moves forward, the swing (transfer, contralateral) leg moves forward. Those parts of it that are closer to the pelvis move faster: the lower leg, lagging behind, bends at the knee, and the foot (lagging even further) bends at the ankle.
The swing leg is placed on the ground, a roll occurs from heel to toe and from the inside to the outside. Almost everyone participates in this process, invisible to humans. foot muscles. The short fibula pulls the edge of the foot outward, the long fibula and posterior tibialis control the arch during the roll to the toe. All groups of joints become springs.
The weight is transferred, the body is straightened, the portable leg becomes a support.

If we consider the mechanics of walking from the perspective of physics, each step could be called a controlled fall. A person would actually fall while lifting their first leg to take a step without an alert nervous system. This is the basis of upright posture and our ability to stand, run, walk, and climb stairs.

Anatomy of the human foot

The bone structure of the foot is formed by three groups of bones:

bones of the toes (divided into three sections - phalanges - on all fingers except the big one);
metatarsal bones - five “tubes” connected to each other, attached from the head to the last phalanx of each finger, from the base - to the tarsus;
tarsus - anterior (proximal) and distant (distal) bones. They form the sole. Includes the talus and calcaneus (proximal), cuboid, scaphoid, and distal sphenoid bones.

Joints

In terms of the number of joints, the foot is one of the most complex parts. The most important element of the system is the ankle joint. He is responsible for the connection with the lower leg. The second in size and importance is the subtalar joint (formed at the point where the calcaneus combines with the talus). Thanks to it, we can produce different amplitudes of movement of the foot (rotate it inward and outward).

Compensation for the functions of the subtalar articular cylinder depends on the sphenonavicular joint. He can temporarily take over the work of an injured “colleague.” Another joint, which is responsible for pronation (inward/outward movement), is formed by the calcaneus, navicular and talus bones (located at the point of their connection).

The stable sole is formed by the tarsometatarsal joints. They have a block-like shape, and their mobility is almost reduced to zero. The interphalangeal joints provide slight mobility of the fingers and connect their phalanges like links in a chain. The last group of joints is responsible for the quality of the connection between the metatarsus and the toes. These “hinges” are formed by the heads of the metatarsal bones and the bases of the last phalanges.

Arch of the foot

An important element of the “design” is the arch of the foot. Each foot has two of them: longitudinal and transverse. It is the arches that provide such an important shock-absorbing function when walking, running, and jumping.

The arches are formed by the bones of the heel, metatarsus and tarsus.

The longitudinal arch (there are two of them) is formed due to the specific structure of the scaphoid bone; it is easily visible and supported by the calf muscles.
The transverse arch is not so noticeable - it runs in the area of 1–5 metatarsal bones and is responsible for the spring/shock absorption functions during locomotion (the medical name for the process of walking).

Muscles, ligaments, tendons, skin

The foot moves thanks to the peroneal, tibial and flexor/extensor muscles. The soft structure also includes an extensive network of tendons of various bones (elastic ligament with muscles), ligaments (inelastic fibers that attach the joint to the bone).

The skin on the dorsal and plantar sides is very different.

The back of the foot is covered with thin skin.
The sole is “closed” with thick fabric. It is formed due to the connections between the aponeurosis and the outer layer of the epidermis - dense strands go to it over the entire area, and between them there are cells with fatty lobules. Therefore, the leather of the sole has such a characteristic structure and appearance.

Nutrition and nerves

Two large arteries supply the feet. The reverse current flows through the veins, the largest of which, the greater saphenous vein, begins at the thumb. The nervous network is formed by four main nerves of the human foot (deep and superficial peroneal, gastrocnemius, posterior tibial) and a huge number of endings. Therefore, pain when nerves are pinched in this section is very high.

Functional purpose of the foot

The basic functions that the foot performs are upright posture, balancing, protection and support of the entire body. The most important tasks:

Spring. It is performed due to the presence of arches and their ability to play the role of a shock absorber. Thanks to the spring function, the feet normally absorb up to 80% of the impact energy when touching the support. This ensures our ability to run, walk, and jump without injury every second.
Reflexogenic is the work of the nervous system, which constantly monitors the position of the body. Thanks to the clever distribution of nerve zones and endings in the foot, the latter is closely connected with all organs of the body. A small area of the sole accommodates dozens of active points through which the foot is connected to the urogenital system, brain, and internal organs. Acupuncture, hardening, massage, acupuncture of the feet make it possible to influence the condition of the entire body and target the desired organ.
Balancing function of the foot. The joints are responsible for it. They provide the ability for a person to move while maintaining a given pose, or to keep his body in the desired coordinates of a three-dimensional system.
Jog function. This is pure physics of locomotion (upright walking). Thanks to the pushing function, a person has energy for forward movement: the foot receives cybernetic energy at the moment of contact with the support, holds it in the process of rolling from heel to toe and gives it back to the body, coming off for a new swing.