What are the bones of the feet
Andrew Vasquez
Published May 20, 2026
The feet are divided into three sections: The forefoot contains the five toes (phalanges) and the five longer bones (metatarsals). The midfoot is a pyramid-like collection of bones that form the arches of the feet. These include the three cuneiform bones, the cuboid bone
What are the 14 bones of the foot called?
Phalanges (singular: phalanx) – the 14 bones that make up the toes.
What are the bones on the side of your foot?
The cuboid bone is a square-shaped bone on the lateral aspect of the foot. The main joint formed with the cuboid is the calcaneocuboid joint, where the distal aspect of the calcaneus articulates with the cuboid.
What 3 bones make up the foot?
The foot can be put into three categories: the forefoot (metatarsals and phalanges), midfoot (cuboid, navicular and 3 cuneiforms), and hind foot (talus and calcaneus).What is metatarsal bone?
The metatarsal bones are the long bones in your foot that connect your ankle to your toes. They also help you balance when you stand and walk.
What are the 7 tarsal bones?
The tarsal bones are 7 in number. They are named the calcaneus, talus, cuboid, navicular, and the medial, middle, and lateral cuneiforms.
Where is the fifth metatarsal bone?
The fifth metatarsal is the long bone on the outside of the foot that connects to the small toe. Fracture are common in this bone, but can happen in different areas.
What is the heel of the foot?
The heel is the prominence at the posterior end of the foot. It is based on the projection of one bone, the calcaneus or heel bone, behind the articulation of the bones of the lower leg.What is MP joint in foot?
The First Metatarsophalangeal joint is located at the base of the big toe. This joint helps with toe-off when walking. This is often the site of a bunion or arthritic changes within the joint.
Why does my bone stick out on the side of my foot?Wearing tight, narrow shoes might cause bunions or make them worse. Bunions can also develop as a result of the shape of your foot, a foot deformity or a medical condition, such as arthritis. Smaller bunions (bunionettes) can develop on the joint of your little toe.
Article first time published onWhy does the outside of my foot hurt?
Although many mechanisms can be to blame, side of foot pain is often due to overuse, improper footwear, or a combination of both, resulting in injuries including stress fractures, peroneal tendonitis, and plantar fasciitis.
Why does the bone on the top of my foot hurt?
The extensor tendons, located in the top of the foot, are needed for flexing or pulling the foot upward. If they become inflamed due to overuse or wearing shoes without proper support, they may get torn or inflamed. This is known as extensor tendinitis, which can cause significant pain in the top of the foot.
What is phalanges foot?
The phalanges (single: phalanx) of the feet are the tubular bones of the toes. The second to fifth toes each contain a proximal, middle and distal phalanx whereas the great toe (hallux) only contains a proximal and distal phalanx.
What is a metacarpal?
The metacarpal bones are the long slender bones which connect your wrist to your fingers and are roughly at the level of your palm. There is one metacarpal for each finger. Fractures are “breaks” or “cracks” in the bone, usually due to trauma. In severe injuries, multiple metacarpals can be fractured.
What is tarsal and metatarsal?
metatarsal: A bone from the center of the foot that articulates with the tarsals and phalanges. tarsal: A bone forming part of the ankle or heel.
What does a 5th metatarsal fracture feel like?
According to the ACFAS consumer Web site FootPhysicans.com, symptoms of a fractured fifth metatarsal include pain, swelling and tenderness, difficulty walking, and occasional bruising. Most people walk on the outside of their feet, making this metatarsal particularly vulnerable.
Can you walk with a 5th metatarsal fracture?
You can walk on your injured foot as much as your pain allows. You should gradually stop using the supportive shoe over three to five weeks, as your pain settles. Most base of 5th metatarsal injuries heal without any problems. However, it may take several months for your symptoms to settle completely.
How do I know if I have broken my 5th metatarsal?
Symptoms of a fifth metatarsal fracture Sudden pain along the outside of your foot is the main symptom. A stress fracture may develop more slowly. You may feel chronic pain for a period of time. Your foot may also swell up and bruise.
What are the 5 metatarsal bones?
- The 1st metatarsal head and two sesamoid bones.
- The 2nd metatarsal head.
- The 3rd metatarsal head.
- The 4th metatarsal head.
- The 5th metatarsal head.
What are the bones of the ankle and foot?
The ankle is a large joint made up of three bones: The shin bone (tibia) The thinner bone running next to the shin bone (fibula) A foot bone that sits above the heel bone (talus)
What are parts of the feet called?
The foot is divided into three sections – the forefoot, the midfoot and the hindfoot.
Where is metatarsal joint?
Your metatarsal bones are the long bones that link your ankle to your toes. Between the heads of the metatarsal bones and the bottoms of the proximal phalanges (your toe bones) are the metatarsophalangeal joints. In other words, metatarsophalangeal joints connect your toe bones to your foot bones.
What is metatarsalgia of the foot?
Metatarsalgia (met-uh-tahr-SAL-juh) is a condition in which the ball of your foot becomes painful and inflamed. You might develop it if you participate in activities that involve running and jumping. There are other causes as well, including foot deformities and shoes that are too tight or too loose.
What is a first metatarsal?
The first metatarsal bone is the bone in the foot just behind the big toe. The first metatarsal bone is the shortest of the metatarsal bones and by far the thickest and strongest of them.
What does it mean when the bottom of your feet hurt?
Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the fibrous tissue (plantar fascia) along the bottom of your foot that connects your heel bone to your toes. Plantar fasciitis can cause intense heel pain. Plantar fasciitis (PLAN-tur fas-e-I-tis) is one of the most common causes of heel pain.
How do you stop the bottom of your feet from hurting?
- rest and raise your foot when you can.
- put an ice pack (or bag of frozen peas) in a towel on the painful area for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours.
- wear wide comfortable shoes with a low heel and soft sole.
- use soft insoles or pads you put in your shoes.
What does it mean when the back of your heel hurts?
Heel pain, especially stabbing heel pain, is most often caused by plantar fasciitis, a condition that is sometimes also called heel spur syndrome when a spur is present. Heel pain may also be due to other causes, such as a stress fracture, tendonitis, arthritis, nerve irritation or, rarely, a cyst.
What is the bony lump on the top of my foot?
Bony bumps and Bone Spurs on the Top of the foot The most common cause of a bone spur on top of the foot is a condition called metatarso-cuneiform exostosis. This hard bump occurs on top of the foot usually at the junction of two bones – your first metatarsal bone and your medial cuneiform bone.
How do you fix a bone sticking out of your foot?
- Weight loss. Losing weight reduces pressure on the bones in your feet and relieves pain associated with a bone spur. …
- Change shoes or wear padding. …
- Heat and ice therapy. …
- Cortisone injection. …
- Walking boot. …
- Pain relievers. …
- Bone spur on top of foot surgery.
What is a tailor bunion?
A tailor’s bunion happens when there is a misalignment of the bones in your small toe. The shifting of bones causes the joint to stick out where your toe meets your foot. Over time, a tailor’s bunion causes your toe to turn in toward the other toes.
What does peroneal tendonitis feel like?
Peroneal tendonitis presents as a sharp or aching sensation along the length of the tendons or on the outside of your foot. It can occur at the insertion point of the tendons. Along the outside edge of your fifth metatarsal bone. Or further up along the outside of your ankle.