arches of the foot

(noun)

The area of the foot formed by the tarsal and metatarsal bones and strengthened by ligaments and tendons. They allow the foot to support the weight of the body in the erect posture with the least weight.

Examples of arches of the foot in the following topics:

  • Arches of the Feet

    • The arches of the foot are formed by the tarsal and metatarsal bones; they dissipate impact forces and store energy for the subsequent step.
    • The arches of the foot are formed by the tarsal and metatarsal bones.
    • The longitudinal arch of the foot can be broken down into several smaller arches.
    • While these medial and lateral arches may be readily demonstrated as the component antero-posterior arches of the foot, the fundamental longitudinal arch is contributed to by both, and consists of the calcaneus, cuboid, third cuneiform, and third metatarsal: all the other bones of the foot may be removed without destroying this arch.
    • In addition to the longitudinal arches, the foot presents a series of transverse arches.

  • Tarsals, Metatarsals, and Phalanges (The Foot)

    • The tarsal bones of the foot are organized into three rows: proximal, intermediate, and distal.
    • The calcaneus is the thickest tarsal and forms the heel of the foot.
    • The navicular bone plays a key role in maintaining the medial longitudinal arch of the foot.
    • The distal tarsals articulate with the metatarsals and also maintain the transverse arch of the foot.
    • The interossei of the foot originate from the shafts of the metatarsals.

  • Flatfoot and Clawfoot

    • Flat feet (also called pes planus or fallen arches) is a formal reference to a medical condition in which the arch of the foot collapses with the entire sole of the foot coming into complete or near-complete contact with the ground.
    • In some individuals (an estimated 20–30% of the general population), the arch simply never develops in one foot (unilaterally) or both feet (bilaterally).
    • High arch (also high instep, clawfoot, or pes cavus in medical terminology) is a human foot type in which the sole of the foot is distinctly hollow when bearing weight.
    • A high arch is the opposite of a flat foot, and somewhat less common.
    • High arch in foot of a person with a hereditary neuropathy.

  • Muscles that Cause Movement at the Foot

    • Movement of the foot and toes requires the action of many muscles.
    • The muscles of the plantar compartment play a key role in stabilizing the arch of the foot and controlling the digits, providing the necessary strength and fine movements to maintain balance and posture and promote walking.
    • Attachments - Originates from the plantar surfaces of the cuboid and lateral cuneiform bones in the sole of the foot and attaches to the big toe.
    • Actions: Adduct the big toe and maintains the arch of the foot.
    • The muscles, tendons, and ligaments of the sole of the foot with flexor digitorum brevis shown in red.

  • Muscles that Cause Movement at the Ankle

    • Eversion (tilting of the sole of the foot away from the midline) and inversion (tilting of the sole of the foot inwards towards the midline) is controlled by the subtalar joint formed between the talus and calcaneus bones of the foot.
    • Actions - Inverts and plantarflexes the foot, maintains the arch of the foot.
    • Eversion of the Foot (tilting of the sole of the foot away from the midline)
    • Inversion of the Foot (tilting of the sole of the foot inwards towards the midline)
    • Dorsiflexion of the Foot (pulling the foot upwards towards the leg)

  • Plantar Fasciitis

    • Plantar fasciitis is a painful inflammatory process of the plantar fascia, the connective tissue on the sole (bottom surface) of the foot.
    • Plantar fasciitis (PF) is a painful inflammatory process of the plantar fascia, the connective tissue on the sole (bottom surface) of the foot.
    • It is often caused by overuse of the plantar fascia or arch tendon of the foot .
    • The plantar fascia is a thick fibrous band of connective tissue originating on the bottom surface of the calcaneus (heel bone) and extending along the sole of the foot towards the toes.
    • Another symptom is that the sufferer has difficulty bending the foot so that the toes are brought toward the shin (decreased dorsiflexion of the ankle).

  • Arches, Vaults, and Domes

    • One answer is to build a frame (historically, of wood) which exactly follows the form of the underside of the arch.
    • As the rise, or height, of the arch decreases, the outward thrust increases.
    • The advantage of using a pointed arch rather than a circular arch is that the arch action in a pointed arch produces less thrust at the base.
    • Of any arch type, the parabolic arch produces the most thrust at the base, but can span the largest areas.
    • The Romans were the first to appreciate the advantages of the arch, the vault and the dome.

  • Arch of the Aorta

    • The arch of the aorta follows the ascending aorta and begins at the level of the second sternocostal articulation of the right side.
    • The arch of the aorta, or the transverse aortic arch, is continuous with the upper border of the ascending aorta and begins at the level of the upper border of the second sternocostal articulation of the right side.
    • The arch of the aorta runs at first upward, backward, and to the left in front of the trachea; it is then directed backward on the left side of the trachea, and it finally passes downward on the left side of the body of the fourth thoracic vertebra.
    • Three vessels come out of the aortic arch: the brachiocephalic artery, the left common carotid artery, and the left subclavian artery.
    • This diagram shows the arch of the aorta and its branches.

  • Arches and Domes

    • As the height of the arch decreases, the outward thrust increases.
    • The most common true arch configurations are the fixed arch, the two-hinged arch and the three-hinged arch.
    • This type of arch has pinned connections at the base.
    • Because the structure is pinned between the two base connections, which can result in additional stresses, the two-hinged arch is also statically indeterminate, although not to the degree of the fixed arch.
    • Domes have the same properties and capabilities of arches, they can span large areas without intermediate supports and have a great deal of structural strength.

  • Development of the Cardiovascular System

    • The third aortic arch constitutes the commencement of the internal carotid artery, and is named the carotid arch.
    • The fourth right arch forms the right subclavian artery as far as the origin of its internal mammary branch.
    • The fourth left arch constitutes the arch of the aorta between the origin of the left carotid artery and the termination of the ductus arteriosus.
    • The fifth arch disappears on both sides.The proximal part of the sixth right arch persists as the proximal part of the right pulmonary artery, while the distal section degenerates.
    • Clinical Example: Most defects of the great arteries arise as a result of persistence of aortic arches that normally should regress or due to the regression of arches that normally should not.