Follow the explanation
Back to the model ↑How the parts work together
Lift and point
Move the flexion slider. Bringing the top of the foot toward the shin is dorsiflexion; pointing it away is plantar flexion.
Tilt the sole
Move the tilt slider. Inversion turns the sole inward; eversion turns it outward. The subtalar and other foot joints contribute.
Look at the connections
Show the soft tissues. Tendons connect muscle to bone; ligaments connect bones. Their routes help explain their different jobs.
The main parts
- Tibia · shinbone
- The larger lower-leg bone. Together with the fibula, it holds the talus in the ankle joint.
- Talus · anklebone
- Sits between the lower leg and heel. Its upper joint mainly permits up-and-down movement.
- Calcaneus · heel bone
- The bone beneath the talus. Their shared subtalar joint contributes to inward and outward tilting.
- Fibula · outer leg
- The slender bone beside the tibia. Its lower end forms the outer ankle prominence and helps contain the talus.
- Navicular
- Sits in front of the talus on the inner side of the foot, contributing to the arch.
- Cuboid & cuneiforms
- Four small bones between the rear foot and metatarsals. Their shape helps organise the arch and the bases of the toes.
- Metatarsals
- Five long bones connect the midfoot to the toes. Compare the strong first metatarsal with its neighbours.
- Toe bones
- The big toe has two phalanges; each other toe has three. These fourteen bones are shown as reference surfaces.
- Achilles tendon
- Connects calf muscles to the heel bone. It transmits the muscle pull used to point the foot down and rise onto the toes.
- Supporting ligaments
- Bands connecting bone to bone. They help stabilise the joints and limit excessive movement.