Anatomy of the foot and ankle

Abstract

The human foot and ankle are uniquely adapted to support the entire weight of the body and provide a platform through which propulsive forces are transmitted to the ground beneath. Far from being passive elements, however, the foot and ankle together represent a dynamic, reactive, and force-generating structure containing a complex arrangement of bones held in inherently unstable configurations by an array of ligaments and muscle tendons. This anatomical complexity, together with the biomechanical demands placed on them, make the foot and ankle particularly susceptible to a variety of injuries and disease processes. This chapter covers the anatomy of the human foot and ankle, including illustrative figures.