tarsals

The tarsals are a group of seven bones in the foot that form the ankle and the proximal part of the foot. The bones are the calcaneus, talus, navicular, cuboid, and the three cuneiform bones (medial, intermediate, and lateral). They are arranged in two rows: the hindfoot, consisting of the talus and calcaneus, and the midfoot, consisting of the navicular, cuboid, and the three cuneiforms.

The talus sits atop the calcaneus and forms the lower part of the ankle joint with the tibia and fibula. The calcaneus, or heel bone, bears much of the body's weight and provides an attachment for the Achilles tendon; it articulates with the talus above and the cuboid in front. The navicular lies medially in front of the talus and articulates with the talus posteriorly and with the three cuneiforms anteriorly. The cuboid is located laterally and articulates with the calcaneus posteriorly, with the lateral cuneiform and the fourth and fifth metatarsals anteriorly, and with the navicular medially. The three cuneiform bones—medial, intermediate, and lateral—are between the navicular and the bases of the first three metatarsals, contributing to the foot’s transverse and longitudinal arches and to the articulation with the metatarsals.

Function and clinical relevance: the tarsals together transfer weight from the leg to the foot, help form the arches that absorb shock, and provide stable connections for movement. They are involved in various injuries and conditions, such as fractures of the talus or calcaneus, and congenital coalitions that fuse adjacent tarsal bones.