Tarsus (skeleton)
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Bones of the right foot. Dorsal surface.

Bones of the right foot. Plantar surface.

In tetrapods, the tarsus are the cluster of bones in the foot between the tibia and fibula and the metatarsus. The bones of the tarsus do not belong to individual toes, whereas those of the metatarsus do. The joint between the tibia and fibula and the tarsus is referred to as the ankle joint.

In humans

The seven tarsal bones are:

• the talus bone (articulates with leg bones)
• the calcaneus bone (heel)
• the three cuneiform bones
• the cuboid bone
• the navicular bone

In other animals

The tarsus is known as the hock in many domestic mammals. The tarsus is also known as the tarsal, and is part of the ankle joint. Most long-footed tetrapods have an elongated metatarsus. The tarsier instead has an elongated tarsus, hence the name.

In birds, the tarsus is the lowest bone of the leg, to which the toes attach.

In insects, the tarsi are the short segments which appear in series after the tibia. It is the part that functions as the foot.

Additional images

CT 3D human Foot Skin and Bone	Lower extremity	Skeleton of foot. Daniel aspect.	Skeleton of foot. Lateral aspect.
Bones of the feet from an actual skeleton

External links

• Diagram, identifying bones
• Norman/Georgetown xrayslowerlimb (xrayfootdorsal)

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