Posterior Talar Articular Surface Of The Calcaneus, Medial View

Description

Calcaneus anatomy is centered on the posterior talar articular surface (posterior facet) on the superior aspect of the heel bone, viewed from the medial side. This convex calcaneotalar facet occupies the posterosuperior calcaneus and is oriented to slope anterosuperior to posteroinferior, matching the reciprocal posterior facet of the talus. Anterior to it, the calcaneal sulcus and adjacent groove toward the sinus tarsi region are partially appreciated, while the sustentaculum tali projects medially and sits anteromedial to the posterior facet. Bony curvature is the story here. Subtalar (talocalcaneal) joint mechanics and pathology often hinge on the posterior facet, because it carries a major portion of hindfoot load during stance and is a common site of post-traumatic incongruity after intra-articular calcaneal fracture. Medial viewing helps when teaching or planning approaches that respect the sustentaculum tali as a constant landmark, since fracture lines may spare it while disrupting the posterior facet and widening the calcaneus laterally. The fixed perspective makes it easier to explain why posterior facet depression translates into hindfoot valgus or varus and why subtalar arthrosis can follow even modest step-off at the articular surface. Orthopaedic and podiatric education will find this illustration well suited to modules on the tarsal skeleton, subtalar arthrodesis planning, and the relationship between the posterior facet and the sustentaculum tali during reduction and fixation. Medical publishers can pair it with radiographs or CT coronal reconstructions to anchor terminology like posterior talar facet, calcaneotalar joint, and hindfoot alignment in a single, anatomically faithful reference image. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.