You can run, jump, climb and swim with them.
That’s right, we’re talking about your feet! They are complex structures, but what are they truly made of?
Here’s your chance to learn more about the anatomy of the foot.
The different types of feet
There are 3 types of feet: the Greek foot, the Egyptian foot, and the Roman (or square) foot.
You can usually tell a foot’s type by its toes’ length and arrangement.
Every type of foot is defined by the following specifics:
- The Greek foot: Common in 23% of the population, characterized by a longer second toe, making it easier for putting on shoes as it adapts better to the shape of the footwear.
- Egyptian foot: The most widespread type (50%), defined by the big toe being the highest. This foot shape may cause difficulty wearing shoes and is more prone to developing a big toe bunion (hallux valgus).
- Roman foot (square): Present in 27% of the population, where the first three toes are the same length.
The foot’s bones
The adult human foot can be divided into two main sections: the forefoot and the hindfoot.
The forefoot consists of 14 phalanges (3 per toe and 2 for the big toe).
The hindfoot is formed by the tarsus, made of 7 bones including:
- The calcaneus (heel bone);
- The talus or astragalus, anchoring the tibia and fibula;
- The cuboid bone;
- The navicular bone;
- The three sphenoid bones (intermediate, middle, and long).
Due to heavy use, foot bones can break or crack from impact or trauma, with possible fractures including a broken big toe, stress fracture of the metatarsal bone, or a heel fracture (calcaneus).
The foot’s arch
While 97% of people have flat feet at birth, the true arch develops over time.
Adults present three types of arches:
- Flat foot: characterized by a sagging arch that often leads to musculoskeletal problems.
- The average foot: a normal arch usually associated with good foot health.
- The cavus foot: a hereditary foot with a highly pronounced arch that can cause pain.
Abnormal foot arches can cause numerous conditions such as claw or hammertoes, exostosis, ingrown nails, Morton’s neuroma, osteoarthritis of the big toe, metatarsalgia, bunions (hallux valgus), calluses, bursitis in the heel, heel cracks, heel spurs, and panniculitis.
To relieve pain and correct postural problems, a podiatrist often recommends using custom foot orthoses.
There is no one better than a podiatrist to help you fully understand your foot!
A podiatrist is a medical professional who possesses the expertise to understand and treat most foot conditions.
If you suffer from recurring discomfort or slow-healing plantar injuries, do not ignore your symptoms.
Do your feet prove confusing? Your podiatrist will be able to help you understand them.