tarsal

(noun)

A bone forming part of the ankle or heel.

Related Terms

Examples of tarsal in the following topics:

  • Tarsals, Metatarsals, and Phalanges (The Foot)

    • The human ankle and foot bones include tarsals (ankle), metatarsals (middle bones), and phalanges (toes).
    • 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.
    • There are four distal tarsals: the lateral cuboid and the three cuneiforms, located medially.
    • The distal tarsals articulate with the metatarsals and also maintain the transverse arch of the foot.

  • Tibia and Fibula (The Leg)

    • The tibia, or shin bone, spans the lower leg, articulating proximally with the femur and patella at the knee joint, and distally with the tarsal bones, to form the ankle joint.
    • The medial malleolus is a bony projection that articulates with the tarsal bones to form the ankle joint.
    • It also articulates with the tarsal bones to form the ankle joint.

  • The Appendicular Skeleton

    • Feet and ankles (52 bones) - Left and right tarsals (14) (ankle), metatarsals (10), proximal phalanges (10), intermediate phalanges (8) and distal phalanges (10)
    • These consist of the femur, patella, tibia, fibula, tarsal bones, metatarsal bones, and phalanges.
    • The bones of the foot are divided into three groups, the tarsal bones, metatarsal bones, and phalanges of the foot. 

  • Human Appendicular Skeleton

    • The bones of the lower limb are the femur (thigh bone), patella (kneecap), tibia and fibula (bones of the leg), tarsals (bones of the ankle), and metatarsals and phalanges (bones of the foot) .
    • The tibia articulates with the femur at its proximal end, with the fibula and the tarsal bones at its distal end.
    • The tarsals are the seven bones of the ankle, which transmits the weight of the body from the tibia and the fibula to the foot.
    • The lower limb consists of the thigh (femur), kneecap (patella), leg (tibia and fibula), ankle (tarsals), and foot (metatarsals and phalanges) bones.

  • 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.
    • These are directed downward and medially, so that when the medial borders of the feet are placed in apposition, a complete tarsal dome is formed.

  • Overview of the Appendicular Skeleton

    • Feet and ankle (52 bones) - The feet and ankle consist of the tarsals (14 bones in the ankle), Metatarsals (10 bones), Proximal phalanges (10 bones), Middle phalanges (eight bones), and Distal phalanges (10 bones).

  • Horner's Syndrome

    • Partial ptosis: drooping of the upper eyelid from loss of sympathetic innervation to the superior tarsal muscle (Müller's muscle)

  • Types of Synovial Joints

    • Planar joints are found in the carpal bones in the hand and the tarsal bones of the foot, as well as between vertebrae .
    • (d) Planar (or plane) joints, such as those between the tarsal bones of the foot, allow for limited gliding movements between bones.

  • Movement at Synovial Joints

    • The joints of the carpal and tarsal bones are examples of joints that produce gliding movements.

  • Gross Anatomy

    • Examples of short bones include the carpal and tarsal bones of the wrist and feet.