Each foot is made up of twenty-six bones which form the ankle, top and bottom of the foot, and toes. These bones are articularly specialized, allowing a wide range of flexibility, while being able to withstand the incredible amounts of stress placed upon them. It is estimated that each stride of an adult places 900 pounds per square inch on the bottom of the foot. Seven of these bones form the compact arrangement of the ankle, or tarsus, and the heel. These |tarsal bones| include the navicular, the three cuneiform, the cuboid, the |talus|, and the |calcaneus| (which also forms the heel) bones. These |tarsal bones| are arranged generally in two rows, the proximal (nearer the body) and distal (nearer the toes). The distal |tarsals| articulate with the five |metatarsals|. The long |metatarsals| form the broad, long structure of the foot, as seen in the superior view. These, in turn, articulate with the |proximal phalanges| (toe bones). The |proximal phalanges| join with the |middle phalanges|, which articulate with the end sections of the toes, called |distal phalanges|. The large toe is the exception, as it lacks a |middle phalanx|. ~Ligaments~ connect the bones of the foot together and allow the muscles of the calf to remotely influence these bones.
