How many bones are in each foot? It is very likely that the part of the human body that we have most forgotten is the foot. It is down there and always wrapped in a sock, a pair of slippers or a pair of summer slippers, almost invisible. Now, this limb is one of the structures of the human organism that has more bones, along with the hands.

Practically half of all the bones in our body are concentrated in both extremities. No less than 26 bones in each foot. Now, how are the bones organized in the human foot? Let’s see.

The 3 parts of the human foot according to its bones

The human foot represents a fundamental part of our body, as it is our main motor for correct mobility, as well as the support to keep us upright. The curiosity lies in the complexity of their bone formation. As we saw in the previous section, the foot is made up of more than twenty bones divided into three different groups, which are the phalanges, the tarsus and the metatarsus.

At this point we will make a brief description of the three parts of the human foot bones .

1. The tarsus

The tarsus connects the foot to the tibia and fibula , which has 7 bones such as the calcaneus, talus, cuboid, navicular and, finally, the internal, middle and external cuneiform bones.

2. The metatarsus

Five bones make up the metatarsal, the ossa metatarsalia in medical terms: first metatarsal, second metatarsal, third metatarsal, fourth metatarsal and fifth metatarsal.

3. The phalanges

It is one of the most complex parts ede between the bones of the human foot, since the phalanges consist of 14 bones in total. There are three phalanges for each toe (except for the thumb which has only two) and they are separated by three sections: proximal, middle and distal phalanges.

The most common foot injuries

Certainly, the foot has a high rate of injury considering the very basic function for the functioning of the human body. The foot is a limb that, apart from its 26 bones, has 33 joints and about 120 tendons, ligaments and various muscles . Therefore, there are common injuries that affect an important part of the population.

Flat feet, or “fallen arches”, account for 70% of human foot injuries. In this case the specialist chiropodist will recommend insoles to correct the curvature of the sole. Overweight is an extremely incisive factor in this type of problem, so having a correct control of body weight will avoid future complications.

So-called bunions also give more than one headache. These form a hard mass in the big toe joint that makes this area uncomfortable to move , as well as calluses, which are the result of friction and pressure from shoes on the toes.

Some recommendations

Considering the importance of the foot, it is important to take into account some recommendations for the good care of the bones and joints that make up the foot. The bones of the foot, if broken, are generally complicated to heal , as no toe can be cast to straighten the break or accelerate bone regeneration.

We must also be concerned about hygiene, professionals warn, as the feet carry bacteria and microbes that seep under the nails and toe hairs . Keeping your feet dry, clean and with well trimmed nails will prevent many painful and often bad smelling infections.

Good footwear is another precaution to take into account, since discomfort in the foot causes hip, back and neck pain.

Bibliographic references:

  • Buikstra, J.E.; D.H. Ubelaker (1994). Standards for data collection from human skeletal remains. Arkansas Archaeological Survey.
  • Mammal anatomy: an illustrated guide. (2020). New York: Marshall Cavendish.