Dominic Stone
The human foot is a complex structure made up of 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The toes themselves have several joints – the second to the fifth toe have three joints each, while the big toe has two. The foot muscles can be divided into two groups: extrinsic and intrinsic. The extrinsic muscles are located in the anterior and lateral compartments of the leg and wrap around the ankle to attach to the foot. The intrinsic muscles are confined exclusively to the foot, with most spreading in layers across the bottom of the foot. There are ten intrinsic muscles located in the plantar aspect (sole) of the foot, which work to stabilise the arches of the foot and control the movement of the toes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of muscles in the foot | 19-20 |
| Number of bones in the foot | 26 |
| Number of joints in the foot | 33 |
| Number of tendons in the foot | Over 30 |
| Number of ligaments in the foot | Over 30 |
| Number of layers of muscles in the foot | 4 |
| Number of intrinsic muscles in the foot | 2-10 |
| Number of extrinsic muscles in the foot | 10 |
| Number of toes with three joints | 4 |
| Number of toes with two joints | 1 |
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What You'll Learn
- The toes have several joints, with the big toe having two and the second to fifth toes having three
- There are 19-20 muscles that control the foot, with 10 of them in the sole
- The toes are flexed by the flexor digitorum longus and flexor hallucis longus muscles
- The extensor digitorum brevis and extensor hallucis brevis are two intrinsic muscles that extend the toes
- The Achilles tendon, which is the strongest and largest tendon in the body, connects the calf muscle to the heel bone
The toes have several joints, with the big toe having two and the second to fifth toes having three
The human foot is a complex structure consisting of 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The toes have several joints, with the big toe having two joints and the second to fifth toes having three.
The joints in the feet are formed wherever two or more bones meet. A layer of cartilage covers the surfaces where two bones meet to form a joint, allowing them to glide smoothly against each other during movement. The foot's flexibility comes from the large number of joints, many of which involve more than two bones. The toes, in particular, have several joints.
The big toe, or hallux, has two joints: the metatarsophalangeal joint (MCP) at its base and the interphalangeal joint (IP) near its tip. The MCP joint is susceptible to osteoarthritis and gout pain due to its distance from the heart and its relatively cool temperature, which make it prone to the formation of uric acid crystals. The IP joint, also known as the distal phalangeal joint, is the joint closest to the tip of the toe.
The second, third, fourth, and fifth toes each have three joints: the MCP joint at the base, the proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP) in the middle, and the IP joint near the tip. These joints are strengthened by collateral and plantar ligaments, allowing for flexion and extension of the toes.
The muscles in the foot can be divided into two groups: extrinsic and intrinsic. The extrinsic muscles start in the lower leg, wrap around the ankle, and attach to the foot, allowing it to move in different directions. The intrinsic muscles, on the other hand, are confined exclusively to the foot. Most of them spread in layers across the bottom of the foot, providing support to the foot's arches.
There are ten intrinsic muscles located in the plantar aspect (sole) of the foot, which work together to stabilize the arches and individually control the movement of the toes. The abductor hallucis muscle, in particular, is a key component of the foot's muscle anatomy, contributing to a small soft tissue bulge on the medial side of the sole.
The foot's complex structure, with its many joints and muscles, allows it to handle hundreds of tons of force daily and provides the necessary stability, balance, and mobility for various activities.
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There are 19-20 muscles that control the foot, with 10 of them in the sole
The human foot is a complex structure that consists of 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Its unique design allows it to handle hundreds of tons of force daily. The foot can be divided into three categories: the forefoot (metatarsals and phalanges), midfoot (cuboid, navicular, and cuneiforms), and hind foot (talus and calcaneus).
The intrinsic muscles, on the other hand, are confined exclusively to the foot. They are further divided into dorsal and plantar groups, with four layers of plantar muscles. Most of these muscles spread in layers across the bottom of the foot, providing support to the foot's arches. The plantar fascia, the longest ligament of the foot, also helps support the arch by running along the sole of the foot from the heel to the toes.
The main muscles of the foot include the posterior tibialis, which supports the arch, and the anterior tibialis, which allows the foot to move upward. The peroneal tibialis controls the movement on the outside of the ankle, while extensors raise the toes, making it possible to take a step. Finally, flexors stabilize the toes and curl them under.
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The toes are flexed by the flexor digitorum longus and flexor hallucis longus muscles
The human foot is a complex structure consisting of 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The toes, in particular, have several joints: the second to the fifth toes have three joints each, while the big toe has two.
The flexor hallucis longus is a posterior leg muscle that moves the big toe and the foot. It arises from the posterior two-thirds of the fibula and descends on the fibular side of the leg, crossing over the posterior part of the ankle. As it enters the sole of the foot, it is crossed by the tendon of the flexor digitorum longus. The flexor hallucis longus continues forward to insert into the distal phalanx of the big toe, distal to the attachment of the soleus muscle. Its primary action is the flexion of all the joints of the big toe, and it also helps with plantar flexion and foot inversion.
The flexor hallucis longus is also important for maintaining the medial longitudinal arch of the foot. It acts as a bowstring for this arch, playing a role in its maintenance. Ballet dancers are particularly susceptible to a dysfunction of this muscle called stenosing tenosynovitis, commonly known as "dancer's tendinitis". This occurs due to extreme plantar flexion of the foot during ballet performances, which exerts pressure on the flexor hallucis muscle and tendon, causing inflammation and pain.
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The extensor digitorum brevis and extensor hallucis brevis are two intrinsic muscles that extend the toes
The human foot is a complex structure consisting of 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The toes have several joints: the second to fifth toes have three joints each, while the big toe has two. The toes also contain several muscles that help with movement and stability.
The extensor hallucis brevis is a short and slender muscle located in the lateral aspect of the dorsum of the foot. It originates from the superior aspect of the calcaneus, which is the heel bone, just posterior to the calcaneocuboid joint. The extensor hallucis brevis works together with the extensor hallucis longus to assist in the extension of the big toe at the metatarsophalangeal joint. This movement is important for gait, as it helps to raise the big toe off the ground, facilitating walking and running.
Sometimes, the fibres of these two muscles fuse, creating a single muscle that extends the toes. The extensor digitorum brevis and extensor hallucis brevis are both covered by the deep layer of fascia of the foot, which is a continuation of the deep fascia of the leg.
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The Achilles tendon, which is the strongest and largest tendon in the body, connects the calf muscle to the heel bone
The human foot is a complex structure made up of 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 tendons, muscles, and ligaments. Tendons are cords of strong, flexible tissue that connect muscles to bones. They work together with ligaments, which connect bones to other bones, to provide movement, stabilize joints, and maintain anatomical structures in the feet.
The Achilles tendon, also known as the calcaneal tendon, is the strongest and largest tendon in the body. It is about 15 centimetres (6 inches) long and starts in the middle of the calf, running down the back of the lower leg to the heel bone (calcaneus). The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscles to the heel bone and helps move the foot and ankle. It is used when you walk, run, climb stairs, jump, and stand on your tiptoes.
The Achilles tendon gets its name from Achilles, a hero in ancient Greek mythology who was vulnerable only at his heel. The tendon was thus named because of the particularly disabling and painful effect of an injury to this tendon. Achilles tendinitis, a common condition, occurs when the tendon becomes irritated and inflamed, often due to overuse. Other Achilles tendon issues include ruptures (tears), heel bursitis, and Haglund's deformity.
The Achilles tendon is one of the most "famous" tendons due to professional sports injuries. It is also the site of a common problem called Morton's neuroma, where compression on a nerve in the ball of the foot causes burning, tingling, and pain near the third and fourth toes.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, toes have muscles. There are 10 intrinsic muscles in the plantar aspect (sole) of the foot, which work together to stabilise the arches of the foot and individually control the toes' movements.
The two main intrinsic muscles in the top of the foot are the extensor digitorum brevis, which extends toes 2-4, and the extensor hallucis brevis, which extends the big toe.
The extensor digitorum longus extends the second to fifth digits. The flexor digitorum longus flexes the second to fifth digits. The flexor hallucis longus flexes the great toe. The abductor hallucis abducts and flexes the great toe. The abductor digiti minimi abducts and flexes the fifth digit. The quadratus plantae assists the flexor digitorum longus in flexing the lateral four toes. The extensor hallucis longus extends the big toe. The extensor digitorum longus extends the four lateral toes.
The foot muscles are divided into nine compartments. The medial compartment contains the abductor hallucis, flexor hallucis brevis, and flexor hallucis longus tendon. The lateral compartment contains the abductor digiti minimi and the flexor digiti minimi. The superficial central compartment contains the flexor digitorum brevis, the four lumbricals, and the flexor digitorum longus tendons. The deep central (calcaneal) compartment contains the quadratus plantae and the posterior tibial neurovascular bundle. The adductor compartment contains the adductor hallucis muscle.
