Calcaneus

The heel bone ( calcaneus Germanized Latin, and calcaneus ) is a short bone of the tarsus. It is the largest and longest tarsal bones.

The body of the heel bone is roughly cuboid. Under the ankle mortise of the ankle it is not centered, but offset to the side. The body extends from the rear end of the foot front, top and side.

Construction

At the far end is the point of the hock ( calcaneal tuberosity ), which forms the heel ( Calx ) of the foot. Here put on the Achilles tendon ( tendo calcaneus ) to the twin calf muscle and soleus. On the underside of the heel cusp are two forward extensions of the processus medialis tuberis calcaneus and the lateral process of the calcaneus tuberis. Here the abductor hallucis, flexor digitorum brevis and the abductor digiti minimi of their origins. The plantar fascia is in the area of the heel cusp also their origin. From the processus medialis often goes from the heel spur. The heel spur is an abnormal and painful thorn-like ossification in the source area of the plantar fascia.

At its bottom ( plantar ) are the sole long tape and the plantar ligament calcaneocuboideum.

Towards the front is the anterior process of the calcaneus. Here is the articular surface for the cuboid bone which is called the articular facies cuboidea and forms the calcaneocuboid together with the cuboid bone.

On the medial surface of the heel bone, there is a projection which " roofed " the surface. This projection is called sustentacular. Large parts of the talus rest on this projection. Under the sustentaculum the tendon of the flexor hallucis longus tendon runs through. Muscle thereby obtains the effect of preventing the heel bone on the buckle inwards. Addition, however, also have been even the tendons of flexor digitorum longus and tibialis posterior in this area, as well as blood vessels and nerves.

On the upper ( dorsal) side there are three joint surfaces:

• Facies anterior articular talaris
• Facies articular talaris media (located on the sustentacular )
• Facies posterior articular talaris

Between the latter two joint surfaces is the calcaneal sulcus, the talaris of the talus forms a canal known as tarsal tunnel together with the sulcus. The facies articular talaris anterior and the articular facies talaris media are common part of the front lower ankle. The facies posterior articular talaris is part of the posterior subtalar joint.

On the side surface there is a small bump, the peroneal trochlea. This cusp separates the tendons of the long and short peroneal muscle from each other.

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Sprinters often have the anatomical feature unusually short legs heels. This is the lever stroke, the Achilles tendon - and thus the calf muscles - must travel during acceleration, when these athletes significantly smaller than in athletes with longer heels legs. The speed with which the calf muscles must contract is therefore smaller, so that higher forces are transmitted to the musculoskeletal system of the foot, which ultimately allows for greater acceleration of the athlete.

Injuries

Fractures (breaks ): causes of calcaneal fractures are mostly falls from heights or traffic accidents. Patients can not be due to pain and characteristically have a bruise on the soles center. A distinction is made between fractures with and without joint involvement ( intra-or extra-articular fractures). Extra-articular fractures are usually treated conservatively.