PODIATRICS
Anatomy of the Foot and Ankle
The human foot combines mechanical complexity and structural strength. The ankle serves as foundation, shock absorber and propulsion engine. The foot can sustain enormous pressure (several tons over the course of a one-mile run) and provides flexibility and resiliency.
The foot and ankle contain:
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26 bones (One-quarter of the bones in the human body are in each foot and ankle);
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33 joints;
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more than 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments (are fibrous tissues that connect muscles to bones and ligaments are fibrous tissues that connect bones to other bones.); and
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a network of blood vessels, nerves, skin, and soft tissue.