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 In humans and many other primates, the calcaneus (; from the Latin ''calcaneus'' or ''calcaneum'', meaning heel; : calcanei or calcanea) or heel bone is a bone of the Tarsus (skeleton), tarsus of the foot which constitutes the heel. In some other ...

with the

navicular 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 ...

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 In humans and many other primates, the calcaneus (; from the Latin ''calcaneus'' or ''calcaneum'', meaning heel; : calcanei or calcanea) or heel bone is a bone of the tarsus of the foot which constitutes the heel. In some other animals, it is th ...

of the

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 The tibialis posterior muscle is the most central of all the leg muscles, and is located in the deep posterior compartment of the leg. It is the key stabilizing muscle of the lower leg. Posterior tibial tendonitis Posterior tibial tendonitis i ...

; its medial border is blended with the forepart of the

deltoid ligament The deltoid ligament (or medial ligament of talocrural joint) is a strong, flat, triangular band, attached, above, to the apex and anterior and posterior borders of the medial malleolus. The deltoid ligament supports the ankle joint and also resi ...

of the

ankle-joint The ankle, the talocrural region or the jumping bone (informal) is the area where the foot and the leg meet. The ankle includes three joints: the ankle joint proper or talocrural joint, the subtalar joint, and the inferior tibiofibular joint. The ...

Function

This ligamentous complex not only serves to connect the

and

, 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

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 Mobility may refer to: Social sciences and humanities * Economic mobility, ability of individuals or families to improve their economic status * Geographic mobility, the measure of how populations and goods move over time * Mobilities, a conte ...

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

Structure

Function

Clinical significance

See also

References

External links