Region · Lower limb
Bones of the foot: tarsals, metatarsals and phalanges
The foot has 26 bones in three groups, 7 tarsals, 5 metatarsals and 14 phalanges. Learn how they form the arches of the foot and the muscles that attach to each bone.
Each foot has 26 bones, in three groups: 7 tarsal bones in the ankle and back half of the foot, 5 metatarsal bones in the middle, and 14 phalanges in the toes. Together they form a flexible, arched structure that carries the weight of the whole body and springs it forward at every step.
At a glance
| Bone | Muscles that originate here | Muscles that insert here |
|---|---|---|
| Talus | – | – |
| Calcaneus | Abductor digiti minimi muscle of foot, Abductor hallucis, Extensor digitorum brevis, Extensor hallucis brevis, Flexor digitorum brevis | Gastrocnemius, Soleus |
| Navicular bone | – | Tibialis posterior |
| Cuboid bone | – | – |
| Medial cuneiform bone | – | Fibularis longus, Tibialis anterior |
| Intermediate cuneiform bone | – | – |
| Lateral cuneiform bone | – | – |
| First metatarsal bone | – | Fibularis longus, Tibialis anterior |
| Second metatarsal bone | – | – |
| Third metatarsal bone | – | – |
| Fourth metatarsal bone | – | – |
| Fifth metatarsal bone | – | Fibularis brevis |
| Proximal phalanx of great toe | – | Abductor hallucis, Extensor hallucis brevis, Extensor hallucis longus |
| Distal phalanx of great toe | – | Flexor hallucis longus |
| Proximal phalanx of second toe | – | Extensor digitorum brevis |
| Middle phalanx of second toe | – | Flexor digitorum brevis |
| Distal phalanx of second toe | – | Flexor digitorum longus |
| Proximal phalanx of third toe | – | Extensor digitorum brevis |
| Middle phalanx of third toe | – | Flexor digitorum brevis |
| Distal phalanx of third toe | – | Flexor digitorum longus |
| Proximal phalanx of fourth toe | – | Extensor digitorum brevis |
| Middle phalanx of fourth toe | – | – |
| Distal phalanx of fourth toe | – | Flexor digitorum longus |
| Proximal phalanx of fifth toe | – | Abductor digiti minimi muscle of foot |
| Middle phalanx of fifth toe | – | Flexor digitorum brevis |
| Distal phalanx of fifth toe | – | Flexor digitorum longus |
From the anatomical data behind Anatomy Atlas 3D (Z-Anatomy, CC BY-SA 4.0, reviewed). Names link to the detailed page when there is one.
How they are organized
Tarsal bones
The seven tarsals are short, blocky bones arranged in two rows:
- Talus: the top bone of the foot. It sits between the lower ends of the tibia and the fibula to form the ankle joint, and passes the weight of the body down to the rest of the foot.
- Calcaneus: the heel bone, the largest bone of the foot, under the talus. Its back end receives the Achilles tendon of the soleus and gastrocnemius.
- Navicular: a boat-shaped bone on the inner side, in front of the talus.
- Cuboid: on the outer side, in front of the calcaneus.
- Medial, intermediate and lateral cuneiforms: three wedge-shaped bones in a row, in front of the navicular.
Metatarsal bones
The five metatarsals are long bones numbered from the inner side: the first metatarsal, behind the big toe, is the shortest and thickest; the fifth, on the outer edge, has a bony bump at its base that you can feel on the side of the foot. Their heads form the ball of the foot.
Phalanges
The toes have 14 phalanges. The great toe (the hallux) has two, a proximal and a distal phalanx. The other four toes each have three: proximal, middle and distal. In some people the middle and distal phalanges of the little toe are fused into one bone.
Small extra bones
Two small sesamoid bones lie under the head of the first metatarsal, inside tendons of the big toe. They are usually not counted among the 26. Some people also have accessory bones, such as an extra ossicle beside the navicular or behind the talus, and other sesamoids occur in some feet but not in others.
What they do together
The bones of the foot are bound by strong ligaments into three arches:
- The medial longitudinal arch, the highest, along the inner side from the calcaneus through the talus, navicular, cuneiforms and first three metatarsals.
- The lateral longitudinal arch, lower and flatter, along the outer side through the calcaneus, cuboid and last two metatarsals.
- The transverse arch, across the foot at the level of the cuneiforms, cuboid and bases of the metatarsals.
The arches let the foot act as a shock absorber when the heel lands and as a stiff lever when the toes push off. Ligaments, the plantar fascia and the tendons of muscles from the leg, such as the tibialis anterior, the tibialis posterior and the fibularis longus, all help hold them up.
Several joints divide the work. The ankle joint, between the talus and the leg bones, moves the foot up and down. The joints below the talus let the sole turn inwards and outwards. The joints between the tarsals and the metatarsals allow small gliding movements that let the foot adapt to uneven ground, and the toe joints bend during push-off.
How to learn them
- Count 7, 5, 14. Learn the three groups first and check that they add up to 26.
- Tarsals in one sentence: "Tiger Cubs Need MILC". Talus, Calcaneus, Navicular, Medial, Intermediate and Lateral cuneiforms, Cuboid.
- Follow the two columns. The inner column runs talus, navicular, three cuneiforms, first three metatarsals; the outer column runs calcaneus, cuboid, last two metatarsals. It makes the layout and the arches easier to remember.
- Number from the big toe. Metatarsals and toes are numbered 1 to 5 from the inner side, like the fingers from the thumb.
- Remember that the talus has no muscles attached. It is held in place by ligaments and by the bones around it, a favorite exam question.
Practical exams often hand you a single foot bone and ask you to name it and tell whether it comes from a left or right foot. In the app, hide the muscle layers to see the bare skeleton of the foot, isolate each tarsal and rotate it to learn its shape from all sides, then quiz yourself on the lower limb by tapping each bone on the 3D body.
Frequently asked questions
How many bones are in the foot?
Twenty-six in most counts: 7 tarsals, 5 metatarsals and 14 phalanges. Sesamoid and accessory bones, which vary between people, are usually not included.
What is the largest bone of the foot?
The calcaneus, the heel bone.
Which bone of the foot forms the ankle joint?
The talus, which fits between the lower ends of the tibia and the fibula.
How many phalanges does the big toe have?
Two, a proximal and a distal phalanx. The other toes have three each.