There are more bones in the feet than in any other part of the body. In addition, there are many joints, muscles, nerves, and tendons. The feet are very important; they move the body forward while absorbing shock. Read on to learn more about foot anatomy.
Foot Facts
Each foot has 26 bones and 33 joints; more than 25% of the body’s bones are located in the feet. In addition, there are more than 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the foot. The highest concentration of nerve endings are in the feet as well – more than 200,000!
The foot & lower leg is home to three major muscles: the gastrocnemius, the soleus, and the quadratus plantae. The bigger muscle in the calf is the gastrocnemius. The smaller muscle in the calf is the soleus. The quadratus plantae are the muscles in the sole of the foot. Tendons are essential for the movement of the feet. In comparison to their size, tendons provide a ton of energy. Four tendons extend from the knee to the foot.
One of those is the Achilles tendon, which is the strongest tendon in the body. Two more tendons run from the inside of the ankle, along the bottom of the foot’s arch, to the tip of the toes. The posterior tibialis tendon supports the arch of the foot. The flexor digitorum and flexor hallucis make your toes curl. You may have heard of the plantar fascia, which connects the ball of the foot to the heel.
How Feet Work
The primary job of the feet is to move your body forward while absorbing shock. When the foot touches down against the ground, it absorbs shock from the ground. The arch of the foot flattens out to absorb shock more evenly. When you take another step, the foot pushes off the ground again. The feet are in a constant cycle of absorbing shock as they propel your body forward.
Foot Anatomy and Shoes
What does all of this mean in terms of choosing shoes? Well, every shoe has five components that should support the anatomy of the foot.
- The front part of the shoe where your toes are located is called the toe box. You should have plenty of space here and should be able to wiggle your toes around easily. A toe box can be round, pointed, or square.
- The middle part of the shoe, where the top of the foot is located, is called the vamp. This is where the shoe laces are located.
- Shoes have two soles. The insole, as the name suggests, is located inside the shoe. This is the part that the bottom of your foot touches when you are wearing the shoes. The outsole is the bottom part of the shoe that touches the ground. Shoes that have softer soles can absorb shock more easily.
- The heel is the part of the shoe located at the back of the foot. It elevates the shoe. The higher the heel, the more pressure is put on the balls of the feet and toes.
- The arch is the section of the shoe located on the bottom, middle of the foot. It should rise up to support the arch of the foot.
Your shoes should be fitted to support your individual foot anatomy. To find comfort shoes & orthopaedic shoes that support your feet, visit Foot Solutions in your area. We have a wide variety of comfort shoes & orthopaedic shoes that are both supportive and flattering. Stop in to Foot Solutions UK to learn more today.
