Development Of The Foot

Development Of The Foot.

Surface Form.-On the dorsum of the foot the individual bones are not to be distinguished with the exception of the head of the astragalus, which forms a rounded projection in front of the   ankle-joint when the foot is forcibly extended, The whole surface forms a smooth convex outline, the summit of which is the ridge formed by the head of the astragalus, the navicular, the middle cuneiform, and the second metatarsal bones; from this it gradually inclines outward and more rapidly inward. On the inner side of the foot, the internal tuberosity of the os calcis and the   ridge separating the inner from the posterior surface of the bone may be felt most pos­teriorly. In front of this, and below the internal malleolus, may be felt the projection of the sustentaculum tali. Passing forward is the well-marked tuberosity of the navicular bone, situ­ated about an inch or an inch and a quarter in front of the internal malleolus. Further toward the front, the ridge formed by the base of t.he first metatarsal bone can be obscurely felt, and from this the shaft of the bone can be traced to the expanded head articulating with the base of the first phalanx of the great toe. Immediately beneath the base of this phalanx, the internal sesamoid bone is to be felt. Lastly, the expanded ends of the bones forming the last joint of the great toe are to be felt. On the outer side of the foot the most posterior bony point is the outer tuberosity of the os calcis, with the ridge separating the rosterior from the outer surface of the bone. In front of this the greater part of the externa surface of the 08 calcis is subcutaneous; on it, below and in front of the external malleolus, may be felt the pero­neal ridge, when this process is present.. Farther forward, the base of the fifth metatarsal bone forms a prominent and well-defined landmark, and in front of this the shaft of the bone, with its expanded head, and the base of the first phalanx may be defined. The sole of the foot is almost entirely covered by soft parts, so that but few bony parts are to be made out, and these somewhat obscurely. The hinder part of the under surface of the os calcis and the heads of the metatarsal bones, with the exception of the first, which is concealed by the sesamoid bones, may be recofnized.