Talus, Inferior View

Description

Oriented from the plantar side, the talus (astragalus) is presented with its calcaneal articular surface divided into posterior, middle, and anterior facets, all concave and separated by the sulcus tali. Medially, the middle facet aligns with the sustentaculum tali of the calcaneus, while laterally the sulcus contributes to the sinus tarsi, a channel that continues into the tarsal canal when paired with the calcaneal sulcus. The talar head projects anteriorly toward the navicular, and the lateral and medial processes frame the posterior aspect near the course of the flexor hallucis longus tendon. A tight space. This inferior perspective matters because it makes the subtalar joint surface geometry readable at a glance, including the relationship between the posterior facet and the sulcus tali, where the interosseous talocalcaneal ligament resides and where sinus tarsi pain syndromes localize. Orthopaedic and sports medicine discussions of hindfoot stability often hinge on these contours, as malalignment after talar neck fractures or calcaneal fractures can disrupt facet congruity and drive post-traumatic subtalar arthritis. Surgical planning for subtalar arthrodesis also starts here, since joint preparation and screw trajectories depend on understanding facet orientation and the tarsal canal corridor. Use this asset for lower limb anatomy teaching in gross anatomy or podiatric medicine courses, and for figures in manuscripts or textbooks covering the ankle, tarsus, and subtalar biomechanics. It also supports patient-facing explanations of hindfoot sprains, coalition workups, and operative subtalar fusion by clearly separating the three calcaneal facets from the surrounding nonarticular bone. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.