Talar Neck, Inferior View

Description

Talar neck anatomy dominates this inferior perspective, with the narrowed bridge between the talar head anteriorly and the talar body posteriorly defining the field. Along the plantar aspect of the neck, the sulcus tali forms a deep oblique groove that runs posterolaterally toward the region that articulates with the calcaneus, sitting medial to the lateral process and lateral to the neck’s medial cortical margin. The inferior contour transitions proximally into the posterior facet area for the subtalar joint and distally toward the talonavicular articular surface, so the viewer can orient anterior, posterior, medial, and lateral borders without distraction. A sharp bony landmark. Clinically, the talar neck is the classic site of talar neck fractures, and the inferior surface orientation helps you relate the sulcus tali to the sinus tarsi and the middle facet region over the sustentaculum tali, where subtalar incongruity can persist even after acceptable radiographic alignment. Because the sulcus tali contributes to the tarsal canal with the calcaneal sulcus, its position matters when teaching subtalar joint mechanics, sinus tarsi pain syndromes, and surgical corridors that avoid iatrogenic injury to adjacent articular cartilage and vascular channels. Fracture patterns here also raise concern for osteonecrosis of the talar body due to disruption of branches from the posterior tibial and dorsalis pedis systems, a point that lands better when the neck’s undersurface landmarks are unmistakable. Orthopaedic trauma lectures, foot and ankle fellowship talks, and anatomy practicals on the tarsal bones all benefit from an illustration that isolates the inferior talar neck and sulcus tali for labeling and comparison with CT reconstructions. Medical publishers can pair it with subtalar joint plates to explain the tarsal canal, sinus tarsi, and post-traumatic subtalar arthritis. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.