Harvey R. Danciger, DPM
74-000 Country Club Drive, Suite A-2
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 568-0108

Foot Anatomy

Understanding the different kinds of problems with your feet is the best way to prevent and treat them. We believe our patients make the best decisions by being fully informed. Our patient library is an excellent learning tool for understanding all kinds of foot conditions, injuries, diseases, and deformities. It's also a great resource for answers to common questions like, "What should I look for in a shoe?", "How can I stretch my feet?", or "How can I prevent ingrown toenails?"

Browse through our library by using the tool bar on the right side of this page.

Not only can you find valuable information in our patient library, but we also provide excellent information on our blogs every week. By following us on twitter or checking out our facebook page, you can also follow links to interesting foot-related issues and see what others are saying about feet.

As always, you can contact our office to answer any questions or concerns.

Order Your
Complimentary Copy of
"Why Do My Feet Hurt?"

_{"The best way to take care of your feet and ankles is to have the information you need. That's why I'm making this book available to anyone who requests it"}
_{- Dr. Harvey Danciger}

The foot is made up of 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments, 19 muscles, and numerous tendons. Complex biomechanics keep all these parts in the right position and moving together. Given these intricacies, it is not surprising that most people will experience some problem with their feet at some time in their lives.

Within each foot, the essential structure can be summed up as follows:

Seven short tarsal bones make up the heel and back of the instep.
Five metatarsal bones spread from the back of the foot toward front and make up the structure for the ball of the foot. Each metatarsal is associated with one of the toes.
Fourteen phalanges, small bones, form the toe structure.
Tarsal and metatarsal bones provide the structure for the arch of the foot.
Bands of ligaments connect and hold all the bones in place.
A thick layer of fatty tissue under the sole helps absorb the pressure and shock that comes from walking and everyday movements.