What is the name of the upper part of the human foot. Rear thigh group

The foot is the lower anatomical leg. Speaking in the language of medical terminology, it is located most distally, that is, remotely from the center of the body or the place of attachment to the body. The skeleton of the foot is rather complex and ideally corresponds to the function assigned to the feet of a person. They underwent a long evolution to adapt to upright walking.

Bone foot

On the foot, areas formed by certain bone groups are distinguished: the pre-tarsal metatarsus and the phalanges of the fingers.

Tarsus - The department of the foot, located immediately below the ankle. From above it is bounded by a circular line drawn through the posterior edge of the calcaneus along the lower edges of the ankles, which corresponds to the upper border of the human foot. Tarsus consists of seven spongy ossicles, which are located in two rows:

• The back row is the same part, which is the main structure of the heel and consists of two relatively massive bones of a complex "irregular" shape: the ram and heel.
• The front row is divided into two more sections - the one that is located with (medial) and the one that is on the side of the outer edge (lateral). The first one includes three cuneiform bones and a navicular, occupying an intermediate position between them and the head of the talus. The second is represented by one cuboid only - it is located between the 4th and 5th metatarsal bone in the front and the heel bone in the back.

The plyus occupies an intermediate position among the three regions. Here the variety of sizes, shapes, and names abruptly ends. It is built of five bones, which are very similar to those located in the metacarpus of the upper limb. They consist of several parts:

• grounds;
• bodies;
• heads.

The phalanges of the fingers are the smallest of all the bones of the foot. Each finger is formed from three such stones, the exception is large - the structure of the human foot is such that it consists of only two phalanges. It is also called the first, the numbering of the toes begins with it - from I to V.

In addition to the listed bones, there are also special sesamoid bones, which are small in size and serve to protect the tendons and increase their shoulder strength. They can be located between the phalanges of the thumb, as well as in the junction of the bones of the metatarsus and phalanges.

Ankle joint

The anatomy of the human foot is rich in interosseous joints, which, for the most part, are represented by joints - they are reinforced with ligaments. Before disassembling each separately, it is necessary to summarize general information about what a joint is. This is a synovial compound capable of participating in a wide variety of movements depending on its structure (in the photo of the diagram to the right). It may contain the following articular elements:

• surface;
• cartilage;
• cavity;
• capsule;
• discs and menisci;
• lip.

It should be remembered that the joint is at the top of development among all the other interosseous joints, in the structure of the foot one of them occupies a special position - it is of the most significant size and rather complex. Ankle joint. It is so large and powerful that it was isolated into a separate anatomical region - "ankle area". Formed from specific parts:

• The articular surfaces are formed with the help of the tibia and fibula, their lower ends - they form a notch for, covering it from several sides. The block is also involved in the construction of the joint. Total emit 6 surfaces.
• Hyaline cartilage covers the outer parts of the connecting surfaces, preventing them from touching directly. It forms an articular gap, defined on the radiograph as the distance between the bones.
• The capsule of the joint is fastened just along the edge of the cartilage and in front of it seizes the area of ​​the talus - its neck.

Do not forget about the presence of ligaments, often accompanying interosseous connections. The ankle strengthens the medial and lateral auxiliary ligaments. The first one resembles the delta letter from the Greek alphabet: it is attached to the inner ankle from above, to the navicular, ram and calcaneus from below. The second is from the outer ankle, diverging in three directions, forming ligaments.

This joint is defined as a block-like joint: it moves around the frontal axis, only when bent, can a human “paw” move to the side.

Other joints of the foot and their ligaments

Directly between the bones of the foot of a person is a lot of mobile joints (the full diagram in the photo). In one area alone, there are four tarsal:

• Subtalar joint. It has a cylindrical shape, limited in mobility. The joint is supported by three connective tissue strands. Differs in functional integrity from the point of view of clinic.
• The talonecaneus-scaphoid is considered a spherical joint, but it is mobile only in one sagittal plane around the axis.
• The calcaneocuboid joint is involved in the motor activity of the two above. Together with the previous joint is called the transverse tarsal joint. It is surrounded by two ligaments, which are a continuation of the so-called forked ligament. It is considered the "key" of the joint, since it must be cut in order to gain full access to it.
• Wedge-navicular joint. It is easy to guess what articular surfaces it consists of - all three wedge-shaped bones take part in their formation from the front. The synovial compound is reinforced by several groups of tarsal ligaments.

The anatomy of the foot is complex and diverse. In addition to the above joints of the lower part of the human foot, there are five tarsus-metatarsal, metatarsophalangeal and interphalangeal joints. The latter in the area of ​​the fifth finger does not have to be present, since the middle and distal phalanx of this finger can be spliced. There are also interplusar joints, reinforced by the dorsal, interosseous and plantar ligaments of the metatarsus. The ligamentous and articular apparatus of the foot must be protected, since each of its elements performs a certain function, ensuring the most comfortable movement in this area.

Foot muscle groups

The structure of the foot, as is known, is not limited to the skeleton. The muscular composition of the human foot, as well as the articular, is very diverse.

The table shows the muscles and their groups, which go down from the shin to the foot.

Group	Muscle name	Function (for the movement of the foot)
Front	Long thumb extender	Extending the thumb as well as the foot as a whole, while raising its inner edge
	Long finger extensor	Participates in straightening, lifting the outer edge, leading to the side
	Anterior tibial	The extension, raises the inner edge
Lateral	Long fibula	Pronation, abduction, bending
	Short fibula
Rear
Surface layer	Form Achilles tendon	Ankle locomotor activity
Deep layer	Long finger flexor	Supination and flexion
	Rear tibia	Adduction and bending
	Long flexor of the big toe	Can bend not only the first finger, but also play a role in bending others

Given the serious functional role of the foot, it is easy to assume that in addition to the above tendons attached to its bones, they have short muscles along the lines of the upper limbs. The structure of the human foot suggests the presence of certain groups:

• lateral;
• average;
• back muscles;
• plantar muscles.

It is important to remember that the anatomical terminology is structured in such a way that its function is often embedded in the very name of the muscle. Often movements are carried out at once by several of them. If one muscle is damaged, its role can be partially compensated by another, performing a similar function.

Neurovascular formations of the foot

  In humans, the body is so arranged that often the vessels and nerves stretch along the body, accompanying each other. Such relationships became known as neurovascular bundles. They are located in almost every area.

So, the tibial bunch in front is presented by the following educations:

• anterior tibial artery;
• two front tibial veins;
• deep fibula nerve.

When they go to the foot, their names change: the dorsal artery of the foot, dorsal veins of the foot and two dorsal digital nerves, respectively. The arterial vessel forks into a multitude of branches, supplying various areas of the foot with blood. The nerve is responsible only for the movement of the short extensor of the fingers and the sensitivity of the skin of the sides of the fingers turned towards each other in the region of the first interdigital gap. The skin of the other areas of the phalanges from the rear innervate the branches of the superficial peroneal nerve, coming from the location of the lateral muscles of the leg.

The back, so-called, tibial bunch consists of certain components:

• posterior tibial artery;
• two veins of the same name;
• tibial nerve.

In the lower part of the leg, the artery gives up two branches: the inner (medial) and outer (lateral) plantar, which form two arterial arcs. The tibial nerve gives its twigs to different areas of the sole, also directing one to the lateral side of the rear of the foot (the schematic image in the photo).

The complex structure of the human foot is accompanied by no less intricate nerves.

Knowledge of the anatomy of the foot is necessary for the correct understanding of almost any pathology, one way or another, associated with this area of ​​the lower limb.

Every healthy person has feet. However, if you ask a passerby on the street what the foot is like a mechanism, what the bones of the foot are and how many there are, not everyone will answer. But this is a very serious question: the health of the organism as a whole depends on the health of a small foot.

At the bottom of the lower limb is the foot of the person, which performs the most important function of support, retaining balance and softens the jolts when walking. The structure of the foot, despite its small size (on average - 25-30 centimeters), is quite complicated. The feet of the legs consist of three major divisions - the muscles, ligaments and bones of the fingers.

A healthy foot without any problems performs the function of supporting and maintaining balance. From the toes, in contrast to the fingers, it is no longer necessary to hold objects (the man’s grasp of the toes is lost in the process of evolution). The phalanges of the toes are much shorter than the phalanges of the fingers. At the same time, the representatives of the male sex have longer fingers than women, the shape of the fingers of men is also different from that of women. Depending on the form, scientists divided people's feet into 3 types.

1. Egyptian form - the first finger is much more than 4 others.
2. Quadrangular shape - the first and second fingers are the same in length.
3. The Greek form is the second finger longer than the big one and all the rest.

Consider in detail the bones of the foot. How many of them? In total, the normal foot has 25 bones, which form three divisions - these are tarsus, plus and fingers. Tarsus (or scaphoid bone) consists of 7 bones arranged in two lines. In the first line are such bones.

1. Cuboid. It is located at the outer edge of the foot. Below the cuboid bone has a notch for the fibular muscle tendon.
2. Scaphoid bone. It is located on the inside of the foot. Scaphoid bone has a slight bulge.
3. Medial, lateral, intermediate cuneiform bones. They form the anterior part of the tarsus.

In the second - bones ankle and heel.

1. Heel. This bone is located at the bottom of the foot, behind the tarso. This is the largest of all the bones of the foot.
2. Talus - forms the lower part of the ankle joint.

Metatarsus is 5 small tubular bones. It is the metatarsal part, interacting with the tarsus, that forms the joints responsible for the mobility of the foot. Toes - only 5 of them on each leg. They are built from several tubular bones (phalanges). The first (thumb) of the two, the rest of the three.

Nerves of the foot (posterior tibial, superficial peroneal, deep peroneal, sural) allow a person to control the work of muscles, conduct signals to the brain. In the event of a violation of any of the nerves listed above, a person in the lower limb area will experience painful sensations.

The bones of the foot are connected to each other through joints.

The most important joints of the foot are the ankle, tarsus, tarsus-metatarsal, interpusal, interphalangeal and metatarsophalangeal. All of them have a rather complicated structure. So, the ankle joint connects the foot with the leg. It consists of several departments (see table.).

Lifting features

If a person's feet are fine, then such elements as the tarsus and tarsus are in different planes. Thus, the talus goes above the heel bone, and the navicular bone goes above the heel bone and cuboid. Such gradation provides the correct arch of the foot. Thus, a healthy foot is not ideally smooth, its back surface has a notch (arch), which allows a slight spring when walking, reduces the load on the legs and the musculoskeletal system as a whole.

How well a person’s foot works, is largely influenced by the arch or the rise of the foot. It is interesting that on the surface of the foot in children after birth there are no irregularities, and the arch at them begins to form only with the first steps (closer to a year). It is very important to monitor the development of children's foot.

Anatomy of the foot says that it is considered normal if the back of the foot has two notches (longitudinal and transverse arches). In this case, the longitudinal arch passes along the edge of the foot, and the transverse arch between the toes.

The anatomy of the foot also indicates that the internal longitudinal arch of the sphenoid, navicular, ram and two metatarsal bones form. Scaphoid articular with the ramus (joint) is located just in the middle of the internal longitudinal arch.

As for the external longitudinal arch, it is formed by a cuboid, calcaneal and also two metatarsal bones. The transverse arch form the bases of the bones of the metatarsus (in the middle there should be a third metatarsal bone).

Types of feet

What are the types of feet? The feet, depending on the height of the arches, are of three types. Among them: the feet of feet, having a high arch; feet with a low arch; feet with a normal arch.

You can define your own type using a simple test. To hold it you will need a container with water and an ordinary paper sheet. So, you should moisten your feet in water, then gently stand on clean paper. Then step back and look at the traces left.

If only 2 small specks are visible on the paper (around the toes and heels), the feet have a high arch. If there is a trace of almost the entire foot, the arch is not high, on the contrary, it is very low, perhaps there is flatfoot. If you have obtained an average result, and on the foot print of the feet can be traced, but not completely, a bend is implied, then the arch is most likely normal.

Of course, the ideal option is the presence of a normal set, since in the first two cases the very important task of depreciation is strongly disturbed. In a normal, longitudinal arch, the 1st metatarsal bone is angled, which allows the feet to roll slightly, significantly reducing the load and pressure.

If the arch is low - (transverse arch of the foot), there is no such angle, the foot is unable to absorb. And the load when walking falls on his knees, hip joints and even the spine, which can lead to serious diseases of the musculoskeletal system, impaired blood circulation.

A high arch is much preferable to a low one. High vault is also called sports. The high arch allows athletes to develop greater speed, while the feet are not overstrained.

Along with this, too high a climb brings people a lot of trouble. Not only is it rather difficult to pick up model shoes for a high lift, so are also feet, for which the lifting of the foot is too big, they hurt after walking and often swell.

A person who has a high arch, walks less steadily. In this regard, it is extremely important to control the formation of the foot in children, not only to prevent flat feet, but also to ensure that the arch does not turn out to be too high.

Formation of the body of the child’s feet

How much time is required for the formation of the foot in children? According to scientists, about 6 years. It is during this time that the muscles, bones and ligaments are strengthened. That is, it is during the preschool period that the easiest way to influence the development of the foot in children is to make sure that a healthy skeleton is formed.

Otherwise, sprains may occur, which in the future will develop into flat feet. To avoid this, babies who have just begun to walk should choose good shoes with a stiff back and small heels. It is worth noting that the shape of the feet in children is often laid back in DNA, and it is difficult to change it, no matter how hard you try, even in childhood.

As for congenital diseases, such as, for example, the reduced foot, their treatment should be started as early as possible - preferably up to a year, until the joints of the foot are soft, the bones have not yet been fully formed. If a disease such as a reduced foot is detected, then the child’s foot muscles and ligaments (more precisely, the part of the ligaments covering the rear of the foot) develop incorrectly, and the bones of the metatarsus are deformed.

This pathology is expressed in the fact that the distance between the first two fingers significantly increases, the arch is longitudinal. Depending on the intensity of the curvature of the bones, the disease is of three steppes of gravity. In the first two cases, the treatment consists in the imposition of gypsum, with a particularly severe degree of disease, surgery is necessary.

At the time when the skeleton of the foot is formed especially intensively (from 1 to 5 years), the child should be under the supervision of specialists.

As a person moves in a straight position, the lion's share of the load falls on the fate of the lower extremities. Therefore, it is important to monitor the weight of your body, facilitating the work of the bones of the foot.

The structure of the ankle joint in humans is represented as the articulation of the bones of the foot with the ankles between them, ensuring the implementation of the complex functions produced.

Human ankle joint

The bones are clearly shown in the diagram and are classified into groups.

These include:

1. The articulation of the bones of the leg with the bones of the foot.
2. Inner junction of tarsal bones.
3. Joints between the bones of the metatarsus and tarsus.
4. Articulations of the proximal phalanges with the bones of the metatarsus.
5. The articulation of the phalanges of the fingers with each other.

Anatomical abilities of the foot suggest a high level of motor activity. For this reason, the person is available to perform heavy physical exertion.

Both the foot and the whole leg are designed to help a person in free movement in the environment.

The structure of the foot is divided into 3 working parts:

1. Bones.
2. Bundles.
3. Muscles

The skeletal base of the foot includes 3 sections: fingers, metatarsus and tarsus.

The design of the toes includes phalanges. As well as the brush, the thumb of the foot consists of 2 phalanges, and the remaining 4 fingers - of 3.

Often there are cases when 2 components of 5 fingers fuse together, forming a finger construction of 2 phalanges.

The structure has a proximal, distal and middle phalanx. They differ from the phalanges of the hand, in that their length is shorter. A clear expression of this is manifested in the distal phalanges.

The bones of the posterior tarsus are composed of the ram and heel components, and the posterior part is divided into cuboid, navicular and cuneiform bones.

The talus is located at a distance from the distal end of the tibia, becoming the bony meniscus between the bones of the foot and the knees.

It consists of the head, neck and body, and is designed to connect with the bones, ankles and the heel bone.

The calcaneus is part of the posterior lower tarsal lobe. It is the largest part of the foot and has an elongated flattened laterally. At the same time, the calcaneus is the link between the cuboid and the ramus.

Scaphoid bone located at the inside of the foot. It has a convex forward view with articular components that connect with closely spaced bones.

The cubical part is located at the outer side of the foot, articulating with the calcaneus, scaphoid, sphenoid and metatarsal bones. To the bottom of the cuboid bone there passes a groove into which the tendon of the elongated peroneuspis muscle is laid.

The composition of the sphenoid bones includes:

• Medial.
• Intermediate.
• Lateral.

They run in front of the navicular bone, inward from the cuboid bone, behind the first 3 metatarsal fragments and represent the anterior inner part of the tarsus.

The skeleton of the metatarsus is represented in segments of a tubular form, consisting of a head, a body, and a base, where the body is similar to a triangular prism. At the same time, the longest bone is the second, and the thickened and short is the first.

The bases of the bones of the metatarsus equipped with articular surfacesserving as a compound with the bone components of the tarsus. In addition, articulating with a number of bones of the metatarsus. At the same time, the heads supplied with articular surfaces are connected to the proximal phalanges.

The metatarsal bones are easily palpable, due to a sufficiently thin covering with soft tissues. They are placed in planes of different angles, creating a vault in the transverse line.

Circulatory and nervous systems of the foot

An important component of the foot are nerve endings and blood arteries.

Distinguish 2 main arteries of the foot:

• Backside.
• Rear tibial.

Also, the circulatory system includes small arteries that distribute to all parts of the tissue.

Due to the distance of the arteries of the feet from the heart, blood circulation is often impaired due to oxygen deficiency. The results of this manifest as atherosclerosis.

The longest vein that transports blood to the heart is located on a segment from the point of the big toe, extending inside the leg. It is called the great saphenous vein. At the same time on the outer side of the leg is a small subcutaneous vein.

Deep legs posted tibial anterior and posterior veins, and small ones drive blood into large veins. Moreover, small-sized arteries supply blood to tissues, and the smallest capillaries join veins and arteries.

A person suffering from circulatory disorders, notes the presence of edema in the afternoons. In addition, varicose veins may appear.

As in other parts of the body, in the foot, the nerve roots read all sensations and transfer them to the brain, controlling movement.

The nervous system of the foot include:

1. Superficial peroneal.
2. Deep peroneal.
3. Rear tibial.
4. Calf.

Crush any nerve can tight shoes, causing swelling, which will lead to discomfort, numbness and pain.

Diagnostic measures

At the moment when there is an alarming symptoms in the foot, a person comes to an orthopedist and a trauma surgeon, who, knowing the complete structure of the ankle joint, can determine a lot by external signs. But at the same time, experts prescribe the examination required for 100% correct diagnosis.

Survey methods include:

• X-ray examination.
• Ultrasound procedure.
• Computed and magnetic resonance imaging.
• Atroscopy

Pathology detection through X-rays is the most budgetary option. Pictures are taken from several sides, fixing the likely dislocation, tumor, fracture and other processes.

Ultrasound helps to detect blood concentration, finding foreign bodies, a possible edematous process in the articular bag, and also to check the condition of the ligaments.

Computed tomography provides a complete examination of bone tissue, with tumors, fractures and arthrosis. Magnetic resonance imaging is an expensive research technique that provides maximum reliable information about the Achilles tendon, ligaments and articular cartilage.

Atroscopy - small invasive intervention, implying the insertion of a special chamber into the joint capsule, through which the doctor will be able to see all the ankle pathologies.

After collecting all the information with the instrumental hardware, examining the doctors and obtaining the results of laboratory tests, an accurate diagnosis is made with the definition of the treatment method.

Pathology of the ankle and feet

Frequent pain, external changes, swelling and impaired motor functions can be signs of foot problems.

As a rule, a person may experience the following diseases:

• Osteoarthritis in the ankle joint.
• Osteoarthritis of the toes of the feet.
• Valgus change of thumb.

Arthrosis of the ankle joint is characterized by crunch, pain, swelling, fatigue during running and walking. This is due to the inflammatory process that damages the cartilage tissue, leading to a typical deformation of the tissues of the joints.

The causes of the disease can be constant increased stress and injury, provoking the development of dysplasia, osteodystrophy and negative changes in statics.

Treatment is carried out on the basis of the degree of arthrosis by means of reducing pain, restoring blood circulation and blocking the spread of the disease. In difficult cases surgery is performed, relieving the patient from the damaged segments of the joint, recreating mobility and eliminating pain.

Osteoarthritis of the toes of the feet is observed during the disturbance of the metabolic processes and the typical blood circulation in the metatarsophalangeal regions of the joints. This contributes to the lack of moderation in the load, uncomfortable narrow shoes, injuries, excess weight and frequent hypothermia.

Symptoms of the disease include swelling, deformation of the structure of the fingers, pain during movement and a crunch.

At the initial stage of arthrosis of the fingers, measures are applied to avoid deformation, with pain relief. When a running stage is detected, in a larger number of cases, the doctor prescribes arthrodesis, endoprosthetics or arthroplasty by surgery, which should completely solve the problem of the disease.

Valgus change of the thumb, better known as the "bump" at the base of the thumb. This disease is peculiar to displacement of the head of one phalangeal bone, bending the thumb to the other four, weakening the muscles and the resulting deformity of the foot.

Treatment that inhibits the development of the disease is caused by prescribing baths, physiotherapy, and physical therapy. When the form of the changes becomes pronounced, an operation is performed, the manner of which is determined by the attending orthopedic physician, taking into account the stage of the disease and the general well-being of the patient.

The lower limbs assume the weight of the whole body, so they suffer from injuries, various disorders, more often than other parts of the musculoskeletal system. This is especially true for the feet that daily receive a shock load when walking: they are vulnerable, and therefore the pain that appears in them can speak about the whole list of diseases or pathologies. What joints suffer more often than others and how to help them?

Foot structure

The bones in this area of ​​the human body are stretched from the heel to the very tips of the fingers and there are 52 of them, which is exactly 25% of the total number of bones in the human skeleton. Traditionally, the foot is divided into 2 sections: the front, consisting of zones of the metatarsus and fingers (including phalanges of the skeleton of the foot), and the rear, formed by the bones of the tarsus. The shape of the forefoot is similar to the metacarpus (tubular bones of the hand) and the phalanges of the fingers, but it is less mobile. The general scheme is as follows:

• Phalanges - a set of 14 tubular short bones, 2 of which belong to the thumb. The rest are collected in 3 pieces. for each of the fingers.
• Metatarsus - short tubular bones in the amount of 5 pieces, which are between the phalanges and the torso.
• Tarsus - the remaining 7 bones, of which the largest is the heel bone. The rest (talus, navicular, cuboid, wedge-shaped intermediate, lateral, medial) are much smaller.

What are foot joints?

Movable joints - a connected pair of links that ensure the movement of the bones of the skeleton, which are separated by a slit, have a synovial membrane on the surface and are enclosed in a capsule or bag: this definition is given to joints in official medicine. Thanks to them, the human foot is mobile, because they are located in the areas of flexion and extension, rotation, abduction, supination (rotation outwards). Movements are made with the help of these muscles joining together.

Features of the joints

The phalanges that make up the segments of the toes have interphalangeal joints that connect the proximal (proximal) with the intermediate, and the intermediate with the distal (distant). The capsule of the interphalangeal joints is very thin, has a lower reinforcement (plantar ligaments) and lateral (collateral). In the departments of the metatarsus of the foot, there are 3 more types of joints:

• Talus-heel (subtalar) - is a joint of the ram and heel bones, characterized by the shape of the cylinder and the weak tension of the capsule. Each bone that forms the ram-heel joint is encased in hyaline cartilage. Strengthening is carried out by 4 ligaments: lateral, interosseous, medial, and ankle-heel.
• Talus-heel-scaphoid - has a spherical shape, assembled from the articular surfaces of 3 bones: ankle, heel and scaphoid, located in front of the subtalar joint. The head of the articulation is formed by the ramus bone, and the others are joined to it by depressions. Fix it 2 ligaments: the plantar heel-navicular and ram-navicular.
• Heel-cuboid - formed by the posterior surface of the cuboid bone and the cuboid surface of the calcaneus. It functions as uniaxial (although it has a saddle shape), it has a tight tension of the capsule and an isolated articular cavity, it is strengthened by 2 types of ligaments: a long plantar and heel-cuboid plantar. Plays a role in increasing the amplitude of the movements of the above-mentioned joints.
• The transverse tarsal joint is a joint of the calcaneocuboid and ankle-heel-navicular joints, having an S-shaped line and a common transverse ligament (thanks to which they are combined).

If we consider the zone of the metatarsus, here, in addition to the interphalangeal joints already mentioned, there are interpleusus joints. They are also very small, necessary to connect the bases of the metatarsal bones. Each of them is fixed by 3 types of ligaments: interosseous and plantar metatarsal and dorsal. In addition to them in the tarsal zone there are such joints:

• Metatarsus and tarsus - represent 3 joints, which serve as a connecting element between the bones of the tarsus and tarsus zones. They are located between the medial sphenoid bone and the 1st metatarsal (saddle joint), between the intermediate with the lateral wedge-shaped and 2nd with the 3rd metatarsal, between the cuboid and 4th with the 5th metatarsal (flat joints). Each of the articular capsules is fixed to the hyaline cartilage, and it is strengthened by 4 types of ligaments: tarsus-metatarsal dorsal and plantar, and interosseous cribulus and metatarsal.
• Plus-phalangeal - spherical shape, consisting of the base of the proximal phalanges of the toes and 5 heads of the metatarsal bones, each joint has its own capsule, fixed to the edges of the cartilage. Its tension is weak, there is no reinforcement on the back side, plantar ligaments are provided on the bottom side, and collateral fixation on the sides. Additionally, stabilization is provided by the transversal metatarsal ligament, which passes between the heads of the bones of the same name.

Foot joints diseases

The lower extremities are subjected to daily stress, even if the person does not lead the most active lifestyle, therefore injury to the joints of the legs (especially the feet that take body weight) occurs with a particular frequency. It is accompanied by deformity and inflammation, leads to the limitation of motor activity, increasing with the progression of the disease. To determine why the joints of the foot hurt, only the doctor is able on the basis of a diagnostic (x-ray, MRI, CT), but the most frequent are:

• Stretching - injury to the joints, and ligaments, which occurs due to increased stress on them. Mostly athletes suffer from this problem. The pain in the foot is observed at the ankle, aggravated during walking, the restriction of movement is average. With a weak stretch, only discomfort is present with pain when trying to transfer weight to the leg. The damaged area may swell, often there is extensive hematoma.
• Dislocation - a violation of the configuration of the joint by leaving the contents of the joint capsule to the outside. Acute pain syndrome, prevents movement completely. It is impossible to control the joint, the foot remains locked in the position that it received at the time of the injury. Without the help of a specialist, the problem cannot be solved.
• Fracture is a violation of the integrity of the bone, mainly due to the impact of the impact force on it. The pain is sharp, sharp, leads to the complete impossibility of movement. The foot is deformed, swells. Hematomas, reddening of the skin (hyperemia) may occur. It is possible to determine the fracture and its nature (open, closed, with displacement) only by means of x-rays.
• Arthrosis is a degenerative process in the cartilage tissue of the joints, gradually affecting the adjacent soft tissues and bones. Against the background of the gradual consolidation of the articulation capsule, the amplitude of movement of the joint decreases. The pain in case of arthrosis of the feet is nagging, at rest weakens. When walking, there is a crunch of joints.
• Arthritis is an inflammatory process of the joints that cannot be stopped completely. Injuries, infections, diabetes, gout, and syphilis can provoke arthritis. Allergic nature is not excluded. Pain syndrome is present only during periods of exacerbation, but manifests itself with such force that a person is unable to move.
• Bursitis is an inflammation of the joints of the foot in the region of periarticular bags, mainly due to excessive loads on the legs (it is diagnosed in athletes with a high frequency). It affects mainly the ankle, with the rotation of which the pain increases.
• Ligamentitis is an inflammatory process in the ligaments of the foot, which is triggered by trauma (may develop against a background of a fracture, dislocation or sprain), or an infectious disease.
• Ligamentosis is a rare (relative to the problems listed above) pathology affecting the ligamentous apparatus of the feet and having a degenerative-dystrophic nature. It is characterized by the proliferation of fibrous cartilage tissue from which the ligaments consist, and its subsequent calcification.
• Osteoporosis is a common systemic pathology affecting the entire musculoskeletal system. It is characterized by an increase in bone fragility due to changes in bone tissue, frequent injury to joints (up to fractures from a minimum load).

Pain in the foot joint in the foot can be caused not only by acquired diseases, but also by some pathologies involving foot deformation. This includes flat feet, developing on the background of wearing the wrong shoes, obesity or osteoporosis, a hollow foot, clubfoot, which is mainly a congenital problem. The latter is characterized by shortening of the foot and subluxation in the ankle area.

Symptoms

The main symptom of problems with joints of the foot is pain, but it can indicate literally any condition or pathology, from trauma to congenital disorders. For this reason, it is important to properly assess the nature of the pain and to see additional signs that will make it possible to more accurately suggest what kind of disease the person has encountered.

Bursitis

The strength of pain in the area of ​​inflammation of bursitis is difficult to compare with other diseases, because it is intense and acute, especially at the time of rotation of the ankle. If you carry out palpation of the affected area, pain is also exacerbated. Additional symptoms of bursitis are:

• local hyperemia of the skin;
• limiting the range of motion and reducing their amplitude;
• hypertonicity of the muscles of the affected limb;
• local swelling of the legs.

Osteoporosis

Against the background of an increase in bone fragility due to a decrease in bone mass and changes in its chemical composition, the main symptom of osteoporosis is the increased vulnerability of the joints and lower limbs as a whole. The nature of the pain is paroxysmal, acute, its strengthening occurs on palpation. Additionally present:

• permanent pain of a whining character;
• fast fatigue during exercise;
• difficulties in performing the usual motor activity.

Arthritis

The inflammatory process affects all joints that are in the foot, and it can be of a primary or secondary nature. In the presence of additional diseases, against which arthritis has developed, the symptoms will be wider. A sample list of signs by which this disease can be identified is as follows:

• swelling of the affected joint or sore foot completely;
• hyperemia of the skin in the area of ​​inflammation;
• the pain is constant, has a nagging character, rolls attacks to complete blocking of the movement;
• deformity of the foot in the late stages of the disease;
• loss of function of the affected joints;
• general malaise - fever, headaches, sleep disturbances.

Arthrosis

The slow course of degenerative processes in the cartilage tissue at the initial stage is hardly noticed by a person: the pain is weak, aching, causes only mild discomfort. As the destruction of tissues increases and the lesion area increases (with involvement of bone tissue), the following symptoms appear:

• crunch in the joints during their activity;
• acute pain with physical exertion, subsiding at rest;
• deformity of the affected area;
• increased articulation on the background of soft tissue edema.

Ligamentite

With the inflammatory process occurring in the ligament apparatus, the pain is moderate, mostly exacerbated by the transfer of weight to the injured leg and movement. The disease is detected only during an ultrasound scan or MRI, since the symptoms of ligamentitis are similar to traumatic damage to the ligaments. Signs such as:

• In the case of osteoporosis, it is important to strengthen the bone tissue, for which sources of phosphorus and calcium are introduced into the diet (supplemental mineral supplementation is not excluded), vitamin D. Calcitonin can also be prescribed (slows down resorption - destruction of bones), somatotropin (an activator of bone formation).
• In case of injury (fracture, dislocation, stretching), immobilization of the articulation with an elastic bandage is obligatory - it is mainly performed on the ankle. In the case of a fracture after the need, the surgeon returns the bones to the site, and after that the application of plaster tape is applied.
• In the presence of hematomas, edema (sprains, bruises), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Diclofenac, Nise, Ketonal) are used topically, and cooling compresses are applied.
• The traumatologist or the surgeon (under anesthesia) sets the sprained joint into place, after the elderly patients prescribe a functional treatment: exercise therapy, massage.
• In case of severe inflammation with denorative-dystrophic processes (characteristic of arthritis, arthrosis, osteoporosis), the doctor prescribes topical injection analgesics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs externally and orally, muscle relaxants.
• In case of arthrosis at the last stage, when the movement becomes blocked, the only way out is to install the endoprosthesis, since monetary actions are irreversible.

A separate kind of therapeutic effects are physiotherapy: shock wave therapy, electrophoresis, UV therapy, paraffin therapy. These techniques are prescribed in the early stages of arthrosis, with ligamentosis, ligamentitis, bursitis, can be applied to traumatic lesions, but, in any situation, this is only an addition to the main treatment regimen.

Video

The hypodermis smoothes out the irregularities of the organs under the skin and also has a softening (cushioning) effect. On the other hand, the subcutaneous tissue serves as a fat depot of the body and, in addition, since fat does not conduct heat well, it helps to maintain body temperature. Another function of the hypodermis is to provide the skin with mobility.

In the dermis there are two layers:

• Reticulate
• Papillary

They are separated by a capillary grid.

In the dermis are sebaceous glands. From 2 to 6 sebaceous glands surround each hair, depending on the part of the body. Together with the sweat glands, they form a protective film on the skin surface (water-lipid mantle), the acidity level of which is slightly shifted to the acidic side - 5.5 (for newborns - 6.5; for physical exertion - 4.5). On the palms and soles, the sebaceous glands are completely absent.

The dermis and epidermis separates the basement membrane - the formation having a convoluted configuration, thereby providing mechanical adhesion (papillae and processes). The epidermis on the sole contains 5 layers:

• Basal - one row of cylindrical cells lying directly on the basement membrane. These are cells that are in a continuous process of division. In this layer are melanocytes - cells that produce the pigment - melanin.
• Prickly - 6-8 rows from prismatic to spindle-shaped cells.
• Granular - 2 - 5 rows of spindle cells.
• Brilliant (eleidinovy) - a layer that is expressed only on the palms and soles.
• Horny - cells lack cellular structures and are completely filled with keratin. They are loosely interlinked and the last row is peeled off.

The cell cycle (ie, the time from the formation of a cell in the basal layer to its peeling from the skin surface) is 20-30 days.

Skin Functions:

1. Barrier (from external factors, chemical, UV, electricity, infections)
2. The sense organ (deep pressure, touch, cold, warmth, ultraviolet irradiation)
3. Thermoregulation (sweating, evaporation, heat transfer)
4. Metabolism (accumulation of in-derma)
5. Breath (permeability). Human skin, while in water, according to a concentration gradient, releases some substances into water. Depending on age, the duration varies: chest age - 5 minutes, adolescents - 10 minutes, adults - 15 minutes.
6. The function of the organs of immunity
7. Endocrine and exocrine function.

Foot structure

The foot is designed to support, acts as a shock absorber, helps maintain balance when changing position, adapts to the unevenness of the earth's surface. In appearance of the fingers, there are three types of feet:

• 60% "Egyptian foot". The thumb is longer than all the others.
• 25% "Quadrangular". The thumb and second finger of the same length.
• 15% "Greek foot". The second finger is longer than the rest.

The skeleton of the foot is divided into 3 sections:

Tarsus. The bones of the tarsus are seven spongy bones arranged in two rows, between the lower leg and metatarsus. The back row is formed by the talus and heel, and the front row is formed by the scaphoid, cuboid and three cuneiform bones: the medial, intermediate and lateral.

The calcaneus is the largest bone of the foot. It is located under the ram and significantly stands out from under it. The calcaneal tubercle is the main fulcrum of the lower limb.

The talus talus, together with the bones of the lower leg, forms the ankle joint.

The plyus consists of five tubular bones. The shortest and thickest is the first metatarsal, the longest is the second. In the metatarsal bones, the body, the head and the base are distinguished. The bases of these bones connect with the bones of the tarsus, and the heads with the bases of the proximal phalanges of the fingers.

Phalanxes of fingers.  The toes of the foot have three phalanges:

• Proximal.
• Average.
• Distal (end).

The exception is the thumb, the skeleton of which consists of two phalanges:

• Proximal.
• Distal (end).

The phalanges are tubular bones. The base of each bone has a flattened fossa, forming a joint with a head corresponding to the metatarsal bone. Phalanges do not play a significant role in the support function, since they touch the ground slightly.

The bones of the tarsus and metatarsus do not lie in the same plane. The talus is located on the calcaneus, and the scaphoid is above the calcaneus and cuboid. With this interposition, the arch of the foot is formed, which provides spring support for the lower limb. The arch of the foot has a bulge facing upwards. The foot rests on the ground at only a few points: the back is a heel of the calcaneus, and in front is the heads of the 1 and 5 metatarsal bones.

The foot produces the following movements: flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, turning in and out. The muscles of the foot are divided into the muscles of the dorsum of the foot and the muscles of the plantar surface. The muscles of the rear foot - extensors. The muscles of the sole are flexors.