
The cuboid is a tarsal bone in the foot, located laterally on the distal row of the tarsus and forming the centre of the lateral column of the foot. It is one of the five mid-foot bones and is approximately cubical in shape. The only muscle to attach to the cuboid bone is the tibialis posterior. This muscle originates in the posterior compartment of the lower leg and travels distally as the tibialis posterior tendon to insert into several tarsal bones, including the underside of the cuboid bone.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Description | One of the seven tarsal bones of the foot |
| Shape | Cubical |
| Location | Lateral aspect of the foot, anterior to the calcaneus, next to the navicular and lateral cuneiform bones, and posterior to the 4th and 5th metatarsal |
| Function | Provides stability to the foot, consumes stress force during standing and ambulation, and contributes to the mobility of the lateral column of the foot |
| Muscular Attachments | The tibialis posterior is the only muscle that attaches to the cuboid bone |
| Ligaments | Calcaneocuboid, cuboideo-navicular, cuboideo-metatarsal, and long plantar ligaments |
| Blood Supply | Deep branches of the medial and lateral plantar arteries, which are branches of the posterior tibial artery |
| Innervation | Branches of the lateral plantar, sural, and deep fibular nerves |
| Pathologies | Cuboid syndrome, cuboid fractures, and Lisfranc injury |
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What You'll Learn
- The tibialis posterior is the only muscle that attaches to the cuboid bone
- The tibialis posterior inserts into the undersurface of the cuboid bone
- The peroneus longus tendon passes through the cuboid bone
- The cuboid bone is located on the lateral aspect of the foot
- The cuboid bone is one of the seven tarsal bones of the foot

The tibialis posterior is the only muscle that attaches to the cuboid bone
The cuboid bone is one of the seven tarsal bones of the foot. It is located laterally on the distal row of the tarsus and forms the centre of the lateral column of the foot. The cuboid is a small, irregularly shaped bone, approximately cubical, from which it derives its name. The bone is not directly involved in weight-bearing, but it does consume stress forces during standing and walking, and its contribution is essential to the mobility of the lateral column of the foot.
The cuboid bone has a groove on its plantar surface, which houses the tendon of the peroneus longus muscle. This tendon runs from the lateral to the medial side of the foot. The peroneus longus tendon forms a sling around the lateral and plantar aspects of the cuboid before inserting into the medial cuneiform and the first metatarsal. This arrangement allows the cuboid to act as a pulley during contraction of the peroneus longus muscle.
The cuboid bone serves as a bony attachment for the tibialis posterior tendon, and it also attaches to the long and short plantar ligaments. The medial surface of the bone serves as an attachment site for the lateral limb of the bifurcate ligament, also known as the calcaneocuboid ligament, in the foot.
The cuboid bone is subject to stress forces during standing and walking, and it plays a crucial role in maintaining the stability and mobility of the lateral column of the foot. Cuboid syndrome is a common cause of lateral midfoot pain in athletes, and cuboid fractures, while rare, can occur in combination with other foot fractures and dislocations.
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The tibialis posterior inserts into the undersurface of the cuboid bone
The cuboid bone is one of the seven tarsal bones of the foot. It is located laterally on the distal row of the tarsus and makes up the centre of the lateral column of the foot. The cuboid is a small, irregular-shaped bone, approximately cubical in shape. It is not directly involved in weight-bearing but is essential to the mobility of the lateral column of the foot.
The tibialis posterior is the only muscle that attaches to the cuboid bone. It originates from the posterior compartment of the lower leg and travels distally as the tibialis posterior tendon to insert on several tarsal bones, including the underside of the cuboid bone. The tibialis posterior is the principal inverter and secondary plantar flexor of the foot.
The plantar surface of the cuboid bone has a groove that houses the tendon of the peroneus longus muscle, which runs from the lateral to medial side of the foot. The peroneal sulcus, a groove on the lateral aspect of the cuboid, holds the peroneus longus tendon in place as it reaches to insert into the first metatarsal and medial cuneiform bones. This arrangement allows the cuboid to serve as a pulley during contraction of the peroneus longus muscle.
The cuboid bone has five articular surfaces that contribute to the intrinsic movement of the foot. These articulations include the calcaneus posteriorly, the fourth and fifth metatarsals anteriorly, and the navicular and lateral cuneiform medially. The cuboid is also supplied by deep branches of the medial and lateral plantar arteries, which are branches of the posterior tibial artery.
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The peroneus longus tendon passes through the cuboid bone
The cuboid bone is one of the seven tarsal bones of the foot. It is located laterally on the distal row of the tarsus and makes up the centre of the lateral column of the foot. The cuboid is a small, irregularly shaped bone, approximately cubical in shape.
The cuboid bone provides a groove for the peroneus longus muscle tendon as it reaches to insert into the first metatarsal and medial cuneiform bones. This groove is called the peroneal sulcus, and it holds the peroneus longus tendon in place. The peroneal sulcus is located on the lateral aspect of the cuboid, and the peroneus longus tendon passes through it before inserting on the lateral base of the first metatarsal and medial cuneiform.
The peroneus longus tendon is susceptible to several pathologies, including tendonitis, tendon dislocation, subluxation, rupture, and acute and chronic compartment syndrome. Peroneal tendon injuries are common in young, active patients, particularly those who play sports such as football, soccer, and running.
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The cuboid bone is located on the lateral aspect of the foot
The cuboid is the only tarsal bone that the tibialis posterior muscle attaches to. The tibialis posterior muscle originates in the posterior compartment of the lower leg and travels distally as the tibialis posterior tendon to insert into several tarsal bones, including the underside of the cuboid. The tibialis posterior is the primary inverter and secondary plantar flexor of the foot. The flexor hallucis brevis muscle also arises from the plantar aspect of the cuboid, aiding in the flexion of the great toe.
The cuboid bone features a groove that houses the tendon of the peroneus longus muscle, which runs from the lateral to medial side of the foot. This arrangement allows the cuboid to act as a pulley during contraction of the peroneus longus muscle. The peroneal sulcus, a groove on the lateral aspect of the cuboid, holds the tendon of the peroneus longus muscle in place as it reaches to insert into the first metatarsal and medial cuneiform bones.
The cuboid is a relatively protected bone, and fractures are uncommon. However, cuboid fractures can occur in conjunction with other foot fractures and dislocations. They may result from a direct impact injury, such as a heavy object falling on the foot, or an avulsion injury involving any of the cuboid's ligamentous attachments. An isolated cuboid fracture, known as a "nutcracker fracture," can occur when severe abduction of the forefoot compresses the cuboid between the anterior surface of the calcaneus and the base of the fourth and fifth metatarsals. Cuboid syndrome is a condition that causes lateral midfoot pain and is believed to arise from a disruption of the arthrokinematics or structural congruity of the calcaneocuboid joint.
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The cuboid bone is one of the seven tarsal bones of the foot
The cuboid bone has five articular surfaces that contribute to the intrinsic movement of the foot. These articulations include the calcaneus, the fourth and fifth metatarsals, the navicular, and the lateral cuneiform. The only muscle that attaches to the cuboid bone is the tibialis posterior, which originates in the lower leg and inserts onto the underside of the cuboid. The tibialis posterior is the principal inverter and secondary plantar flexor of the foot.
The peroneal sulcus, a groove on the cuboid bone, holds the tendon of the peroneus longus muscle. This tendon passes through the peroneal sulcus before inserting onto the first metatarsal and medial cuneiform bones. The cuboid bone also serves as a pulley during contraction of the peroneus longus muscle, allowing for load transfer across the forefoot.
Cuboid syndrome is a condition that causes lateral midfoot pain and is often associated with athletes. It is believed to arise from a disruption of the calcaneocuboid joint, irritating the joint capsule, ligaments, and peroneus longus tendon. Treatment for cuboid syndrome involves manipulation of the cuboid bone, such as the cuboid whip and cuboid squeeze techniques.
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Frequently asked questions
The tibialis posterior is the only muscle that attaches to the cuboid bone.
The cuboid is one of the seven tarsal bones of the foot. It is located laterally on the distal row of the tarsus and makes up the center of the lateral column of the foot.
The cuboid provides stability to the foot by acting as a supporting element of the static and rigid lateral column of the foot. It also consumes stress force during standing and ambulation.



































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