Bones of the Foot, Posterior View

Description

Posteriorly oriented, the os calcaneus dominates the hindfoot, with its superior articular facets meeting the talus at the subtalar joint and its posterior tuberosity projecting inferiorly to form the heel. Superior to the calcaneus, the talar trochlea (trochlea tali) and posterior process sit proximal to the midfoot, while the cuboid and navicular extend anteriorly as the tarsal arch transitions into the metatarsals and phalanges distally. Medially, the sustentaculum tali supports the talus above; laterally, the calcaneal body broadens toward the calcaneocuboid articulation. A posterior and plantar-leaning view is the one most readers want when correlating bony contour with load transfer through the hindfoot, because the calcaneus is the primary contact point in heel strike and the talus acts as the keystone between the leg and the foot. Subtalar alignment and posterior facet morphology are central to discussions of hindfoot varus or valgus, calcaneal fractures, and post-traumatic subtalar arthritis. Surgical approaches for calcaneal fracture fixation and arthrodesis planning also depend on recognizing posterior calcaneal landmarks and the relationship of the talus to the calcaneus in the coronal plane. Small margins matter. Course directors in gross anatomy, podiatric medicine, and orthopaedic resident teaching can pair this rendering with gait mechanics lectures to anchor terminology such as tarsals, metatarsals, and phalanges to a clinically familiar posterior heel silhouette. Publishers will find it well suited for chapters on hindfoot trauma, subtalar joint biomechanics, and posterior impingement syndromes where the talar trochlea and calcaneal tuberosity need to read instantly. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.