Tarsal

Tarsal refers to the tarsus, the cluster of bones in the hindfoot that form the ankle and the proximal portion of the foot. In humans the tarsus consists of seven bones: talus (ankle bone), calcaneus (heel bone), navicular, cuboid, and the three cuneiform bones (medial, intermediate, and lateral). The term derives from Latin tarsus, from Greek tarso meaning ankle.

The talus articulates with the tibia and fibula to form the ankle joint, while the calcaneus bears weight and forms the subtalar joint with the talus. The navicular, cuboid, and cuneiforms help create the arches of the foot and connect with the metatarsal bones. Together, the tarsal bones allow motions such as dorsiflexion, plantarflexion, inversion, and eversion, and they contribute to the foot’s medial and lateral stability.

Clinically, the tarsal region is involved in several conditions. Tarsal fractures (such as talar neck or calcaneal fractures) can occur after high-energy trauma. Tarsal tunnel syndrome results from compression of the tibial nerve within the tarsal tunnel behind the medial malleolus. Tarsal coalition is a congenital fusion between two tarsal bones, often causing flatfoot and pain. Tarsalgia refers to pain in the tarsal region.

Beyond humans, the term also appears in other animals and in insects. In arthropods, the tarsus is the distal segment of a leg, often subdivided into tarsomeres; in mammals, the term tarsal remains confined to the tarsus area.