6.7 Foot and Ankle

Question 1

What type of joint is the distal tibiofibular joint?

Answer 1

A syndesmosis joint (fibrous connection).

Question 2

What connects the tibia and fibula distally?

Answer 2

Anterior and posterior tibiofibular ligaments and an interosseous membrane.

Question 3

What percentage of body weight does the tibia bear?

Answer 3

About 70–90%.

Question 4

What percentage of body weight does the fibula bear?

Answer 4

About 10–30%.

Question 5

What is the function of the fibula at the ankle?

Answer 5

Provides attachment sites for ligaments and muscles, assists with rotation and elevation during ankle motion.

Question 6

What type of joint is the proximal tibiofibular joint?

Answer 6

A synovial joint with some anterior and posterior movement during walking.

Question 7

How many tarsal bones are there?

Answer 7

Seven — talus, calcaneus, navicular, cuboid, and three cuneiforms.

Question 8

What bones form the talocrural joint?

Answer 8

The tibia, fibula, and talus.

Question 9

What motion occurs at the talocrural joint?

Answer 9

Dorsiflexion and plantar flexion.

Question 10

What bones form the subtalar joint?

Answer 10

The talus and calcaneus.

Question 11

What motion occurs at the subtalar joint?

Answer 11

Inversion and eversion.

Question 12

What motions make up pronation?

Answer 12

Dorsiflexion, eversion, and abduction.

Question 13

What motions make up supination?

Answer 13

Plantar flexion, inversion, and adduction.

Question 14

What motions occur in the sagittal plane at the ankle?

Answer 14

Dorsiflexion and plantar flexion.

Question 15

What motions occur in the frontal plane at the foot?

Answer 15

Inversion and eversion.

Question 16

What motions occur in the transverse plane at the foot?

Answer 16

Abduction and adduction of the forefoot.

Question 17

What are the major joints of the ankle-foot complex?

Answer 17

Talocrural, subtalar, and transverse tarsal joints.

Question 18

What percentage of the talus is covered with articular cartilage?

Answer 18

About 70%.

Question 19

What bones make up the rearfoot?

Answer 19

Talus and calcaneus (and subtalar joint).

Question 20

What bones make up the midfoot?

Answer 20

Navicular, cuboid, and three cuneiforms (including transverse tarsal and intertarsal joints).

Question 21

What bones make up the forefoot?

Answer 21

Metatarsals and phalanges.

Question 22

What structure attaches to the calcaneus?

Answer 22

Achilles tendon and plantar fascia.

Question 23

What is the shape relationship of the talocrural joint surfaces?

Answer 23

Concave tibia and fibula articulating with convex talus.

Question 24

What direction does the slide occur during dorsiflexion?

Answer 24

Posterior.

Question 25

What direction does the slide occur during plantar flexion?

Answer 25

Anterior.

Question 26

Which bone sits lower at the ankle, fibula or tibia?

Answer 26

The fibula, creating a bony block to eversion.

Question 27

In open chain subtalar inversion, what is the roll and glide direction?

Answer 27

Rolls medially, glides laterally.

Question 28

In open chain subtalar eversion, what is the roll and glide direction?

Answer 28

Rolls laterally, glides medially.

Question 29

What is the function of the subtalar joint’s oblique axis?

Answer 29

Allows triplanar motion to adapt to uneven surfaces while maintaining rigidity for push-off.

Question 30

What bones form the transverse tarsal joint?

Answer 30

Talonavicular and calcaneocuboid joints.

Question 31

Which part of the transverse tarsal joint allows more motion?

Answer 31

The talonavicular joint.

Question 32

Which part of the transverse tarsal joint is more rigid?

Answer 32

The calcaneocuboid joint (provides lateral column stability).

Question 33

How does the transverse tarsal joint move relative to the subtalar joint?

Answer 33

It moves together with the subtalar joint to create pronation and supination.

Question 34

What happens to the midfoot during pronation?

Answer 34

It becomes more flexible for shock absorption.

Question 35

What happens to the midfoot during supination?

Answer 35

It becomes more rigid for push-off.

Question 36

What is the axis orientation for pronation and supination?

Answer 36

Oblique — running inferiorly and posteriorly as it moves laterally.

Question 37

What type of motion occurs at the MTP joints?

Answer 37

Flexion and extension (hinge motion).

Question 38

In MTP flexion, what direction are roll and glide?

Answer 38

Both roll and glide plantar.

Question 39

In MTP extension, what direction are roll and glide?

Answer 39

Both roll and glide dorsal.

Question 40

What is the windlass mechanism?

Answer 40

Tightening of the plantar fascia during toe extension to stiffen the foot for efficient push-off.