Longitudinal Arches of the Foot

Description

The transverse, medial longitudinal and lateral longitudinal arches of the foot

Medial and lateral longitudinal arches

Arches illustrated for the right foot (left side is lateral view, right side is medial view). Dashed lines are used to indicate that the arches would be invisible from that perspective.

Name

• Longitudinal Arch of the Foot
• Medial Longitudinal Arch
• Lateral Longitudinal Arch

General

• Two longitudinal arches, medial and lateral
• Formed between tarsal bones and metatarsal heads
• Together, contribute to Arches of the Foot

Medial Arch

• Higher of the two longitudinal arches
• Boney support: calcaneus, talus, navicular, three cuneiforms, first three metatarsals
• Muscular support: Tibialis anterior, tibialis posterior, fibularis longus, flexor digitorum longus, flexor hallucis longus, intrinsic foot muscles
• Ligamentous support: Plantar ligaments: Long Plantar Ligament, Plantar Calcaneocuboid Ligament, plantar calcaneonavicular ligament, Deltoid Ligament
• Other: Plantar aponeurosis

Lateral Arch

• Flatter of the two longitudinal arches
• Lies on the ground in the standing position
• Bony support: calcaneus, cuboid, 4th and 5th metatarsals
• Muscular support: Fibularis longus, flexor digitorum longus, intrinsic foot muscles
• Ligamentous support: Plantar ligaments: Long Plantar Ligament, Plantar Calcaneocuboid Ligament, plantar calcaneonavicular ligament
• Other: Plantar aponeurosis

Functions

• Weight Bearing
• Movement

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Clinical Significance

Pathology

• Pes Cavus
• Pes Planus

Measurement

• Feiss Line Test

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See Also

• Foot Anatomy Main
• Foot Pain Main
• Physical Exam Ankle

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