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Heel bone (heel)
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
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The calcaneus is the largest bone in the foot. It is located under the talus and protrudes significantly from underneath it. At the back of the body of the calcaneus, a downward-sloping calcaneal tubercle (tuber calcanei) is visible. On the upper side of the calcaneus, three articular surfaces are distinguished: the anterior, middle, and posterior talar articular surfaces (faciei articulares talaris anterior, media et posterior). These surfaces correspond to the calcaneal articular surfaces of the talus. Between the middle and posterior articular surfaces, the calcaneal groove (sulcus calcanei) is visible, which, together with a similar groove on the talus, forms the sinus of the tarsus (sinus tarsi). The entrance to this sinus is located on the dorsum of the foot on its lateral side. A short and thick process, the support of the talus (sustentaculum tali), extends from the anterior superior edge of the calcaneus on the medial side. On the lateral surface of the calcaneus there is a groove for the tendon of the long peroneal muscle (sulcus tendinis m.peronei longi). On the distal (anterior) end of the calcaneus there is a cuboid articular surface (facies articularis cuboidea) for articulation with the cuboid bone.
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