Calcaneus
Updates to Article Attributes
The calcaneus is the largest bone in the hindfoot. It articulates with the talus superiorly and the cuboid anteriorly, and shares a joint space with the talonavicular joint, appropriately called the talocalcaneonavicular joint. The calcaneus transfers most of the body weight from the lower limb to the ground.
Gross anatomy
The calcaneus is an irregular, roughly box-shaped bone sitting below the talus, and its anterior aspect is inclined cranially. It projects posteriorly to form the core of the heel.
The dorsal part of the calcaneus is circular and provides the attachment site for the calcaneal tendon (Achilles tendon) posteriorly at the calcaneal notch and facilitates weightbearing inferiorly at the calcaneal tuberosity. The plantar surface of the calcaneal tuberosity contains a medial and lateral process and at its most anterior projection is the calcaneal tubercle, where the short plantar ligament attaches.
On the otherwise fairly smooth lateral aspect of the calcaneus is the fibular trochlea (peroneal tubercle), where the tendons of the fubularis brevis and longus muscles pass.
Protruding anteromedially is the sustentaculum tali which supports the anteromedial part of the talus. At its inferior aspect is a groove accommodating the flexor hallucis longus tendon. Superiorly is a cartilage covered facet for the middle portion of the subtalar joint, which is inclided anteriorly.
The anterior and posterior facets of the talocalcaneal joint are on the superior surface of the calcaneus, of which the posterior facet is the largest. Between these two facets runs a fairly deep sulcus, the calcaneal sulcus, which together with the opposing talar sulcus forms the tarsal sinus (sinus tarsi). The posterior facet is inclined anteriorly.
Articulations
Superiorly, the calcaneus articulates with the talus at the talocalcaneal joint, also known as the (anatomic) subtalar joint, making contact at anterior, middle and posterior facets.
Anteriorly, the calcaneus articulates with the navicular (calcaneonavicular joint) and the cuboid (calcaneocuboid joint) bones.
Attachments
MusclesMusculotendinous
- triceps surae, i.e. gastrocnemius and soleus (insertion: calcaneal tuberosity through calcaneal/Achilles tendon)
- abductor hallucis (origin: medial process of calcaneal tuberosity
- flexor digitorum brevis (origin: calcaneal tuberosity)
- quadratus plantae (origin: plantar surface of calcaneus)
- abductor digit minimi (origin: medial and lateral process of calcaneal tuberosity)
- extensor digitorum brevis (origin: dorsolateral)
- extensor hallucis brevis (origin: dorsal, tarsal sinus)
LigamentsLigamentous
- lateral: lateral collateral ligament of the ankle joint
- inferior: short plantar ligament (at calcaneal tubercle)
- superior: tarsal sinus ligaments, including:
- cervical ligament
- talocalcaneal interosseous ligament,
- lateral, intermediate, and medial roots of the inferior extensor retinaculum
- anterior: plantar calcaneonavicular ligament (the spring ligament)
Variant anatomy
Related pathology
-<p>The <strong>calcaneus</strong> is the largest bone in the <a href="/articles/hindfoot">hindfoot</a>. It articulates with the <a href="/articles/talus">talus</a> superiorly and the <a href="/articles/cuboid">cuboid</a> anteriorly, and shares a joint space with the talonavicular joint, appropriately called the talocalcaneonavicular joint. The calcaneus transfers most of the body weight from the lower limb to the ground.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>The calcaneus is an irregular, roughly box-shaped bone sitting below the talus, and its anterior aspect is inclined cranially. It projects posteriorly to form the core of the heel.</p><p>The dorsal part of the calcaneus is circular and provides the attachment site for the calcaneal tendon (Achilles tendon) posteriorly at the calcaneal notch and facilitates weightbearing inferiorly at the calcaneal tuberosity. The plantar surface of the calcaneal tuberosity contains a medial and lateral process and at its most anterior projection is the calcaneal tubercle, where the short plantar ligament attaches.</p><p>On the otherwise fairly smooth lateral aspect of the calcaneus is the fibular trochlea (peroneal tubercle), where the tendons of the fubularis brevis and longus muscles pass.</p><p>Protruding anteromedially is the <a href="/articles/sustentaculum-tali">sustentaculum tali</a> which supports the anteromedial part of the talus. At its inferior aspect is a groove accommodating the flexor hallucis longus tendon. Superiorly is a cartilage covered facet for the middle portion of the subtalar joint, which is inclided anteriorly.</p><p>The anterior and posterior facets of the talocalcaneal joint are on the superior surface of the calcaneus, of which the posterior facet is the largest. Between these two facets runs a fairly deep sulcus, the calcaneal sulcus, which together with the opposing talar sulcus forms the <a href="/articles/tarsal-sinus">tarsal sinus</a> (sinus tarsi). The posterior facet is inclined anteriorly.</p><h5>Articulations</h5><p>Superiorly, the calcaneus articulates with the talus at the <a href="/articles/talocalcaneal-joint">talocalcaneal joint</a>, also known as the (anatomic) subtalar joint, making contact at anterior, middle and posterior facets.</p><p>Anteriorly, the calcaneus articulates with the navicular (<a href="/articles/calcaneonavicular-joint">calcaneonavicular joint</a>) and the cuboid (<a href="/articles/calcaneocuboid-joint">calcaneocuboid joint</a>) bones. </p><h5>Attachments</h5><h6>Muscles</h6><ul>- +<p>The <strong>calcaneus</strong> is the largest bone in the <a href="/articles/hindfoot">hindfoot</a>. It articulates with the <a href="/articles/talus">talus</a> superiorly and the <a href="/articles/cuboid">cuboid</a> anteriorly, and shares a joint space with the talonavicular joint, appropriately called the talocalcaneonavicular joint. The calcaneus transfers most of the body weight from the lower limb to the ground.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>The calcaneus is an irregular, roughly box-shaped bone sitting below the talus, and its anterior aspect is inclined cranially. It projects posteriorly to form the core of the heel.</p><p>The dorsal part of the calcaneus is circular and provides the attachment site for the calcaneal tendon (Achilles tendon) posteriorly at the calcaneal notch and facilitates weightbearing inferiorly at the calcaneal tuberosity. The plantar surface of the calcaneal tuberosity contains a medial and lateral process and at its most anterior projection is the calcaneal tubercle, where the short plantar ligament attaches.</p><p>On the otherwise fairly smooth lateral aspect of the calcaneus is the fibular trochlea (peroneal tubercle), where the tendons of the fubularis brevis and longus muscles pass.</p><p>Protruding anteromedially is the <a href="/articles/sustentaculum-tali">sustentaculum tali</a> which supports the anteromedial part of the talus. At its inferior aspect is a groove accommodating the flexor hallucis longus tendon. Superiorly is a cartilage covered facet for the middle portion of the subtalar joint, which is inclided anteriorly.</p><p>The anterior and posterior facets of the talocalcaneal joint are on the superior surface of the calcaneus, of which the posterior facet is the largest. Between these two facets runs a fairly deep sulcus, the calcaneal sulcus, which together with the opposing talar sulcus forms the <a href="/articles/tarsal-sinus">tarsal sinus</a> (sinus tarsi). The posterior facet is inclined anteriorly.</p><h5>Articulations</h5><p>Superiorly, the calcaneus articulates with the talus at the <a href="/articles/talocalcaneal-joint">talocalcaneal joint</a>, also known as the (anatomic) subtalar joint, making contact at anterior, middle and posterior facets.</p><p>Anteriorly, the calcaneus articulates with the navicular (<a href="/articles/calcaneonavicular-joint">calcaneonavicular joint</a>) and the cuboid (<a href="/articles/calcaneocuboid-joint">calcaneocuboid joint</a>) bones. </p><h5>Attachments</h5><h6>Musculotendinous</h6><ul>
-</ul><h6>Ligaments</h6><ul>- +</ul><h6>Ligamentous</h6><ul>
-<li><a title="Talocalcaneal coalitions" href="/articles/talocalcaneal-coalition">talocalcaneal coalition</a></li>- +<li><a href="/articles/talocalcaneal-coalition">talocalcaneal coalition</a></li>
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