What type of bone is a calcaneus?

The calcaneus is an irregular bone, cuboid in shape whose superior surface can be divided into three areas – the posterior, middle and anterior aspects.

Is calcaneus an irregular bone?

The calcaneus is an irregular, roughly box-shaped bone sitting below the talus. Its long axis is oriented along the mid-line of the foot, however deviates lateral to the mid-line anteriorly. It projects posteriorly to form the core of the heel.

Why is calcaneus a large bone?

The calcaneus is a large, strong bone for two reasons. First, the calcaneus absorbs a great deal of impact shock when walking and running.

What is calcaneus bone made of?

In humans the heel consists of the calcaneus (largest of the tarsal bones), cushioned below by a bursal sac, fat pad, and thickened skin. The calcaneus is roughly rectangular, articulating above with the talus bone of the ankle joint and in front with the cuboid, another tarsal bone.

What is a short bone?

Short bones are shaped roughly as a cube and contain mostly spongy bone. The outside surface is comprised of a thin layer of compact bone. Short bones are located in the hands and feet. The patella (kneecap) is also considered a short bone.

Is sternum a flat bone?

Your sternum is a T-shaped flat bone that’s located in the middle of your chest. It protects your heart and lungs. Your ribs are also flat bones. You have 12 of them on either side of your body.

What is calcaneus made of?

The heel bone and largest bone in the foot The calcaneus is the bone that forms the heel of the foot. It is one of the tarsals, the bones that make up part of the foot and ankle. The calcaneus is the largest bone of the foot and provides the foundation for all of the other tarsals and metatarsals.

What’s the calcaneus?

Overview. The calcaneus is the large bone at the heel of the foot. It is usually fractured after a fall from a great height or in a motor vehicle accident.

What is the shortest bone in the body?

The stapes is the smallest bone in the human body.

What is the smallest bone in your body?

stapes
The 3 smallest bones in the human body–malleus, incus, and stapes–are located in the middle ear. At 3 x 5 mm in size, the stapes is the smallest bone in the human body. All 3 bones are essential for hearing.

Is the sternum a short bone?

Short bones: Short bones also have a tubular shaft and articular surfaces at each end but are much smaller. The short bones include all of the metacarpals and phalanges in the hands, and the metatarsals and phalanges in the feet. The flat bones include the scapula (wingbone), the ribs, and the sternum (breastbone).

Where is the calcaneus bone located?

Located within the foot, the calcaneus is also known as the heel bone. It is situated in the back of the foot, just below the talus, tibia, and fibula bones of the lower leg. Of all of the bones in the foot, the heel bone is the largest. The calcaneus has a unique design and structure.

What does the distal end of the calcaneus look like?

The distal end forms an obliquely directed, oval, articular surface that is convex in the transverse plane and concave in the vertical plane. This surface articulates with the cuboid bone. The calcaneus is the most commonly fractured tarsal bone and accounts for about 2% of all fractures in the body, and 60% of all tarsal fractures.

What age does the calcaneus become solid bone?

In some males, it doesn’t finish ossifying (hardening into solid bone) until 22 years of age. The calcaneus is at the posterior (back) of the foot where the heel is located. This location allows the calcaneus to act as a fulcrum point for flexion and extension of the foot.

What does the calcaneus do?

The calcaneus provides insertion points for the abductor hallucis and the abductor digiti minimi muscles. At the back of the heel, the Achilles tendon inserts into the rough area located on the superior (upper) side. This fibrous connective tissue, as well as other ligaments and muscles, is necessary for standing, walking, and running.