foot

Eva Rudolf-Müller is a freelance writer in the medical team. She studied human medicine and newspaper sciences and has repeatedly worked in both areas - as a doctor in the clinic, as a reviewer, and as a medical journalist for various specialist journals. She is currently working in online journalism, where a wide range of medicine is offered to everyone.

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The human foot is a complex structure consisting of seven tarsal bones, five metatarsal bones and 14 toe bones. These bones are connected by 33 joints, they are stabilized and kept in motion by 20 muscles and 114 ligaments. The foot is exposed to high levels of stress every day - it is the most stressed section of the musculoskeletal system because it carries the whole person. The burden is particularly great if you are overweight. Find out everything you need to know about the foot here!

What is the foot

The foot (Latin: pes) is a complex structure made up of numerous bones, muscles and ligaments, which has become an important supporting organ with the development of the upright gait. From an anatomical point of view, it is divided into three areas: the tarsus (tarsus), the metatarsus (metatarsus) and the toes (digiti).

Tarsus

The two largest tarsal bones are the ankle bone (talus) and the - even larger - heel bone (calcaneus). The other representatives are the scaphoid bone (Os naviculare), the three sphenoid bones (Ossa cuneiformia) and the cuboid bone (Os cuboideum). In an upright posture, only the back of the heel bone - the bony base of the heel - is on the floor.

Metatarsus

The central area is made up of the five metatarsal bones (ossa metatarsalia), the first being the shortest and at the same time the strongest, as it is mainly rolled over by the big toe. The second metatarsal is the longest; from the third to the fifth, the length decreases continuously.

Toes

From an anatomical point of view, the toe bones correspond to the finger bones, but their function is regressing. The big toe is made up of two bones (like the thumb), the other four toes are made up of three bones each (like the remaining four fingers). In some people, the little toe is made up of just two bones.

Transverse and longitudinal vaults

A transverse and a longitudinal arch serve to stabilize the foot. The transverse arch is formed by ligaments and tendons, the longitudinal arch by ligaments of the sole of the foot and muscles that contract when loaded, so that the loaded foot is always slightly shorter than the unloaded foot.

What is the function of the foot?

The foot is the most important supporting organ in humans. When walking, there is only movement in the two ankle and toe joints. The other joints (in the area of ​​the tarsus and metatarsus) are so strongly fixed by their ligament connections that a resilient arch is created that allows only slight displacement. From the age of 12 to 13, the foot has developed its final shape with a transverse and a longitudinal arch, with the longitudinal arch in particular serving to absorb loads.

The pressure acting from above is distributed over the ankle and heel bones on the one hand and over the metatarsus on the other. Here the vault works actively against it through its numerous muscles and tendons. When standing for a long time, the pressure on the sole reduces the distance between the heel bone and the heads of the metatarsals through permanent muscle tension. This explains why standing for long periods is more strenuous than running, because when you run your muscles are tense and relaxed again and again. This also explains why deformities in the foot area are more common in jobs that require long periods of standing or doing heavy work while standing.

Usually 40 percent of the body weight rests on the balls of the body, the remaining 60 percent on the heels - if you don't wear shoes or only wear flat shoes. If you wear high heels, on the other hand, you shift almost 80 percent of your body weight onto the balls of your feet. This permanently destroys the fat pads on the pads. In addition to joint pain, structural changes also occur that lead to a ball of the big toe.

Where is the foot?

The foot is connected to the two lower leg bones, the tibia and fibula, via the ankle joint. Its current skeletal shape was created through a reshaping in which the gripping function has largely been lost and almost only the support function plays a role.

What problems can the foot cause?

Frequent problems arise from misalignments: In flat or flat feet (pes planus), the longitudinal arch is flattened. Those affected often also have an articulated foot (pes valgus): The heel bone is bent inwards when viewed from behind.

Hallux valgus (ball of the big toe) is a misalignment of the big toe and the most common deformity of the lower extremity. The big toe is permanently inclined to the outside of the body (i.e. in the direction of the other toes). Women are particularly affected: high heels and shoes that are too tight in the front area promote the painful toe misalignment.

Heel spurs and corns are also painful. Heel spur is a bony outgrowth on the heel, either on the sole of the foot (plantar heel spur) or at the back of the attachment of the Achilles tendon (dorsal heel spur). A corn (clavus) is a rounded callus that occurs at pressure points (such as on the big toe or the sole of the foot) - as a protective cushion against the constant stress that results, for example, from too tight shoes and a misalignment.

Osteoarthritis, inflammation due to incorrect loading or excessive strain on the foot, broken bones (fractures) are other common health problems. The same goes for gout. In this metabolic disease, the uric acid level in the blood is abnormally high. The excess uric acid crystallizes out and is deposited in the body, especially on the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe, but also in the knee, for example. The result is severe pain in the affected joints (gout attack), which can last for hours to days.

A fungal infection on the foot (tinea pedis) can be very uncomfortable and persistent. It usually begins between the toes and can spread to the entire sole of the foot.

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