Anatomy of the Foot

Abstract

The anatomy of the foot and ankle is quite complex, and entire books have been written on the topic. For the purposes of this chapter, an abridged anatomical review is provided. The structures described are limited to those within or in contact with the foot, except for the extrinsic muscles, whose bellies and tendons are located in the leg. This includes descriptions of the skeletal structures of the foot, such as the bones and joints, and covers ligaments as well. Next, the muscles and tendons of the foot are described in some detail, before the nerves and blood vessels are reviewed.