Foot

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

that part of the lower extremity below the leg on which we stand and walk. It is composed of three series or groups of bones-the tarsal, or hindermost; the metatarsal, which occupy the middle portion; and the phalanges, which form the toes. The tarsal bones are seven in number. Above, they are connected with the tibia and fibula bones of the leg, and below from the heel and the hinder part of the instep. They are the astragalus, which articulates with the tibia and fibula; the os calcis, or bone of the heel; the os naviculare, or scaphoid bone, on the inner side of the foot, articulating with the astragalus; the os cuboides, on the outer , articulating with the side of the foot os calcis, the three cuneiform or wedgeshaped bones (the internal, middle, and external) in front of the scaphoid bone, near the middle of the foot. The metatarsal bones are five in number, and belong to the class of long bones. They are connected posteriorly with the tarsal, and anteriorly with the phalangeal bones. One is attached to each of the cuneiform bones, and two to the os cuboides; and they diverge slightly outward as they proceed for forward. Their anterior ends form the balls of the toes. The first metatarsal bone is the shortest and strongest, while the second is the largest 2 d e CROSS SECTION OF HUMAN FOOT D. Metatarsal bones A. Tibia E. Phalanges B. Bone of the heel F. Sesamoid bones C. Tarsal bones G. Ankle joint -the others all decreasing in length according to their distance from it. These of the bones form the anterior portion instep. The phalanges, or bones of the , three to each toes, are 14 in number toe, except the great one, which has only two. The upper ones, which are longest and largest, are named the metatarsal; the next, next, the middle; and the most anterior, the ungual phalanges. The bones of the foot, more particularly those that compose the tarsus and metatarsus, are firmly connected together, so that they those are not liable to be displaced; and parts where they articulate with one another being covered with a tolerably thick layer of highly elastic cartilage, they possess a considerable degree of elasticity. They are bound together in various directions, by a number of ligawhich is ments, one of the principal of the plantar ligament, which is of great strength, and passes through the under surface of the heel-bone near its extremity, forward to the ends of the metatarsal bones. The movements of the foot, which are permitted by the connecting ligaments, are effected by a variety of muscles. The principal movements are: (1) That at the ankle, formed by the the astragalus, by tibia and fibula with which the foot is bent and straightened; (2) between the astragalus and os calcis, and by which the foot is is rolled inward outward; (3) between the first and second range of tarsal bones, admitting of a very slight motion, by which the arch of the foot may be somewhat increased are or diminished. Besides these there the less complicated movements of the metatarsal and phalangeal bones. The foot is usually so much interfered with in civilized life as to be deprived of much of its beauty, and even of its utility; its movements being impeded by its being confined in tight-fitting boots, to to conthe shape of which feet are made form. In poetry, a foot is a meter, or measure, composed of a certain number of long and short syllables. Some are dissyllabic, consisting of two feet, as the trispondee, iambus, trochee; and some tribrach. syllablic, as the dactyl, anapest, feet. These are what are called simple There are others, consisting of four, five, or six syllables, which are reckoned double or compound feet, but which are com- 1 monly resolved into single feet. In arithmetic, a measure of length, consisting of 12 inches, or 36 barleycorns laid end to end. It also expresses surface and solidity. A square foot is and the same measure both in length breadth, containing 12×12=144 square or solid or superficial inches. A cubic foot is the same measure in all directions, or 12 inches long, broad and deep, 12=1,728 cubic containing 12×12=144× foot. As inches to the solid or cubic this term is employed in almost all languages as a linear measure, it has length doubtless been derived from the of the human foot. Though the denomination is the same, the measure itself varies considerably in different countries. As a military term, soldiers who march and fight on foot; infantry; as, horse and foot.