Lateral cuneiform

Assoc Prof Craig Hacking ◉ ◈ et al.

The lateral cuneiform is one of the tarsal bones located between the intermediate cuneiform and cuboid bones.

On this page:

Article:
Images:

The lateral cuneiform is a wedge-shaped bone. It is smaller than the medial cuneiform and larger than the intermediate cuneiform. It lies edge downward, between the intermediate cuneiform and cuboid.

  • anteriorly with the 2nd and 3rd metatarsals
  • posteriorly with the navicular
  • laterally with the cuboid
  • medially with the intermediate cuneiform
  • flexor hallucis brevis: the proximal part of the lateral cuneiform undersurface gives rise to this muscle
  • tibialis posterior: one of its fibrous terminal tendon slips attaches to the narrow plantar surface
  • plantar interosseous ligaments: arise from the lower part of the lateral cuneiform, forming part of the transverse arch of the foot, these are mainly cuneocuboid ligament and intercuneiform ligaments which help gliding and rotation in pedal pronation or supination and also when the forefoot is stressed, as in initial thrust of running and jumping
  • anterior: 2nd and 3rd metatarsal
  • posterior: navicular
  • lateral: cuboid
  • medial: intermediate cuneiform

The lateral cuneiform ossifies in the first year of life.

Isolated lateral cuneiform fracture is rare, but has been documented in the literature 1,

Anatomy: Lower limb

Anatomy: Lower limb

Share article

Article information

rID: 41547
System: Musculoskeletal
Section: Anatomy
Synonyms or Alternate Spellings:
  • Third cuneiform
  • External cuneiform
  • Cuneiforme lateral

ADVERTISEMENT: Supporters see fewer/no ads

Cases and figures

  • Figure 1
    Drag here to reorder.
  • Figure 2
    Drag here to reorder.
  • Case 1: lateral cuneiform fracture
    Drag here to reorder.
  • Figure 3a: lateral cuneiform (Gray's illustration)
    Drag here to reorder.
  • Figure 3b: lateral cuneiform (Gray's illustration)
    Drag here to reorder.