Scottish Institute of Reflexology

FOOT ANATOMY

A little revision is provided by Margaret Smillie’s masterclass on the anatomy of the foot.

Anatomy of the Foot

Our feet carry us for our lifetime, yet it is often only when something goes wrong with our posture or feet that we pay much attention to them.   Feet require plenty of exercise to maintain muscle tone and suppleness as well as appropriate skincare and footwear.
In China, all age groups can be observed deliberately walking with bare feet on specially set out stony paths in order to ensure varying pressures and balancing exercise for the muscles and arches of the feet. This is often a family activity on a Sunday afternoon in parks in Hong Kong and helps to ease and strengthen tired feet, which have trod the concrete pavements in shoes for the previous week

Each foot consists of an ankle, an instep and five toes.

Bones of the Foot

The foot consists of 26 bones in all.  These bones, together with nerves, muscles and ligaments support the weight of the body, and provide flexibility, especially on rough or uneven surfaces. 

The toes consists of short bones which allow for balance and lift whilst walking etc. and consist of:
 
14 Phalanges
These are found in the toes and are short bones which allow for balance and lift whilst walking etc.   For such small bones these are very sturdy……………………………..

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