The plantar calcaneonavicular ligament (also known as the spring ligament or spring ligament complex) is a complex of three ligaments on the underside of the foot that connect the
calcaneus with the
navicular bone.
Structure
The plantar calcaneonavicular ligamentous complex is a broad and thick band with three constituent ligaments. These connect the anterior margin of the
sustentaculum tali of the
calcaneus to the plantar surface of the
navicular bone
The navicular bone is a small bone found in the feet of most mammals.
Human anatomy
The navicular bone in humans is one of the tarsus (skeleton), tarsal bones, found in the foot. Its name derives from the human bone's resemblance to a small ...
.
Its individual components are the:
* superomedial calcaneonavicular ligament.
* medioplantar oblique ligament.
* inferior calcaneonavicular ligament.
These ligament components attach to different parts of the navicular bone.
The dorsal or superomedial component of the ligament presents a fibrocartilaginous facet, lined by the synovial membrane, upon which a portion of the head of the talus rests. Its plantar surface, consisting of the intermedial and lateral ligaments, is supported by the tendon of the
tibialis posterior; its medial border is blended with the forepart of the
deltoid ligament of the
ankle-joint.
Function
This ligamentous complex not only serves to connect the
calcaneus and
navicular bone
The navicular bone is a small bone found in the feet of most mammals.
Human anatomy
The navicular bone in humans is one of the tarsus (skeleton), tarsal bones, found in the foot. Its name derives from the human bone's resemblance to a small ...
, but supports the head of the
talus, forming part of the articular cavity in which it is received. It helps to maintain the
medial longitudinal arch of the
foot
The foot (: feet) is an anatomical structure found in many vertebrates. It is the terminal portion of a limb which bears weight and allows locomotion. In many animals with feet, the foot is an organ at the terminal part of the leg made up o ...
.
By providing support to the head of the talus, it bears most of the body weight in a normally functioning foot.
Clinical significance
A
sprain
A sprain is a soft tissue injury of the ligaments within a joint, often caused by a sudden movement abruptly forcing the joint to exceed its functional range of motion. Ligaments are tough, inelastic fibers made of collagen that connect two or ...
to the plantar calcaneonavicular ligament can result in
flatfoot deformity, which can impair
mobility.
See also
*
Long plantar ligament
*
Short plantar ligament
References
External links
* ()
* https://web.archive.org/web/20060507052103/http://www.ithaca.edu/faculty/lahr/LE2000/ankle%20pics/5medankle-new.jpg
{{Authority control
Ligaments of the lower limb