Number of Bones in the foot

[doclm]

Why do some professionals, say Orthopods and the AOFAS think that there is 26 bones in the foot? While us Podiatry professionals will claim 28 because of the two sesamoids on the plantar surface of the head of the 1st metatarsals?

I would think that the sesamoid apparatus would be so important to any foot and ankle professional.

Or is there something that I am not catching here??

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[Dr_Feelgood]

Why do some professionals, say Orthopods and the AOFAS think that there is 26 bones in the foot? While us Podiatry professionals will claim 28 because of the two sesamoids on the plantar surface of the head of the 1st metatarsals?

I would think that the sesamoid apparatus would be so important to any foot and ankle professional.

Or is there something that I am not catching here??

I would guess b/c the disparity of sesamoids. Would you count bipartied sesamoids as two?

Also perhaps it is b/c anatomic socities have a stance on it (I don't know whether they would agree with 26 or 28).

 

[Dr. Gangrene]

And I always thougth "the foot" was one big bone.

 

[Dr. Gangrene]

I guess I better clarify that last post: It was Sarcastic!

 

[IlizaRob]

Why do some professionals, say Orthopods and the AOFAS think that there is 26 bones in the foot? While us Podiatry professionals will claim 28 because of the two sesamoids on the plantar surface of the head of the 1st metatarsals?

I would think that the sesamoid apparatus would be so important to any foot and ankle professional.

Or is there something that I am not catching here??

You forgot all the accessory ossicles...you better count again.

 

[Feli]

I'd probably go with 28...

The two hallucal sesamoids at the MPJ are all but constant. They have extensive ligamentous and muscular attachments to prove they've been around awhile. I've never seen any anatomical, ortho, pod, or other literature that states them as not being constant, but maybe it's out there somewhere? All my notes and books list them as normal anatomy and not accessory bones...

They're definitely present more often than the dorsalis pedis artery, yet that's certainly "normal anatomy."

 

[doclm]

I'd probably go with 28...

The two hallucal sesamoids at the MPJ are all but constant. They have extensive ligamentous and muscular attachments to prove they've been around awhile. I've never seen any anatomical, ortho, pod, or other literature that states them as not being constant, but maybe it's out there somewhere? All my notes and books list them as normal anatomy and not accessory bones...

They're definitely present more often than the dorsalis pedis artery, yet that's certainly "normal anatomy."

The number of bones in the foot is not what I am questioning, but why Orthopods and AOFAS will claim that there is only 26. In my mind I don't see why someone would exclude them, because of all of those attachments and the sesamoid apparatus which is very important. However, Dr. Feelgood made a good point.

 

[Dr. Gangrene]

I would guess b/c the disparity of sesamoids. Would you count bipartied sesamoids as two?

Also perhaps it is b/c anatomic socities have a stance on it (I don't know whether they would agree with 26 or 28).

I have no knowledge of the sesamoids you are speaking of.

Aren't sesamid bones (i.e. patella) formed over time?

If that is the case, I think you would have to go w/ 26, since that is all one is born with. Someone may be born w/ feet, can't walk, and therefore would not develop the other 2 bones.

If I am wrong (very possible) correct me. As I said, I don't know of these 2 bones in the feet, only of sesamoid in general. If these 2 are formed as the patella is, I would say 26

 

[Catayst]

And I always thougth "the foot" was one big bone.

That would make it a hoof

 

[Feli]

I have no knowledge of the sesamoids you are speaking of.

Aren't sesamid bones (i.e. patella) formed over time?

If that is the case, I think you would have to go w/ 26, since that is all one is born with. Someone may be born w/ feet, can't walk, and therefore would not develop the other 2 bones.

If I am wrong (very possible) correct me. As I said, I don't know of these 2 bones in the feet, only of sesamoid in general. If these 2 are formed as the patella is, I would say 26

Hallux sesamoids appear before birth and ossify around age 12. You probably won't be able to get this article unless your library e-subscribes, but here's the abstract.

1: Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1981 Jun;(157):88-97. Links
The sesamoids of the hallux.

• Jahss MH.

The seemingly innocuous tiny sesamoids play an important role in the function and pathomechanics of the hallux. The recent active participation of people of all ages in jogging and long-distance running, activities introducing repetitive stressful forces on the forefoot, induces sesamoiditis. Bones normally asymptomatic, such as the sesamoids, require renewed interest in embryology, anatomy, congenital variations, infection, osteochondritis, trauma and effective treatment.
PMID: 7249468 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

[krabmas]

I have no knowledge of the sesamoids you are speaking of.

Aren't sesamid bones (i.e. patella) formed over time?

If that is the case, I think you would have to go w/ 26, since that is all one is born with. Someone may be born w/ feet, can't walk, and therefore would not develop the other 2 bones.

If I am wrong (very possible) correct me. As I said, I don't know of these 2 bones in the feet, only of sesamoid in general. If these 2 are formed as the patella is, I would say 26

The normal human is not born with 26 bones in the foot.

The bones that are ossified at birth are calcaneus(part of it), talus, cuboid, parts of all 14 palanges, parts of all 5 metatarsals. So the human is born with 22 ossified bones in the foot.

The knee is considered to have 3 bones in it, the patella, tibia and femur. if this is the case then the 1st MPJ has 4 bones in it and then the foot should have 28 bones.

 

[krabmas]

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070405164606AAPv4W4

here is a link to the answer on yahoo. they say that only the named bones are counted as bones. I guess that is why the patella is counted as a bone.

It is kind of funny that the sesamoids under the 1st met do not have names but all the accessory bones have names.

 

[Dr_Feelgood]

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070405164606AAPv4W4

here is a link to the answer on yahoo. they say that only the named bones are counted as bones. I guess that is why the patella is counted as a bone.

It is kind of funny that the sesamoids under the 1st met do not have names but all the accessory bones have names.

Aren't they the tibial and fibular sesamoids. I thought those were names, but maybe not?

 

[krabmas]

Aren't they the tibial and fibular sesamoids. I thought those were names, but maybe not?

I thought about that also but tibial and fibular are just about location as in medial and lateral and not names.

 

[doclm]

Aren't they the tibial and fibular sesamoids. I thought those were names, but maybe not?

There is a medial or tibial sesamoid and a lateral or fibular sesamoid.

 

[Dr_Feelgood]

But they are still names. It is just like the medial marginal vein. It is a location and a name.

 

[krabmas]

But they are still names. It is just like the medial marginal vein. It is a location and a name.

whatever. they do not count. get over it. when some one asks me this question I usually say 26 plus 2 sesamoids. then end up explaining what sesamoids are.

 

[Dr_Feelgood]

whatever. they do not count. get over it. when some one asks me this question I usually say 26 plus 2 sesamoids. then end up explaining what sesamoids are.

I'm not disagreeing, I'm just playing devil's advocate.

 

[krabmas]

I'm not disagreeing, I'm just playing devil's advocate.

well, don't. 😍

I wish you would reconsider and come to INOVA so I can pimp you so hard...😱

 

[Dr_Feelgood]

well, don't. 😍

I wish you would reconsider and come to INOVA so I can pimp you so hard...😱

I might come for a visit. I still have not decided; I am for sure sending my app to them.

Now as for th pimping, I look terrible in pumps and a miniskirt.😱

 

[krabmas]

I might come for a visit. I still have not decided; I am for sure sending my app to them.

Now as for th pimping, I look terrible in pumps and a miniskirt.😱

we can adjust the outfit to be more of a leopard print body suit with some platform hooker boots. And maybe even a purple boa.

No seriously, I have some really good pimp questions that I cannot wait to use 😱

 

[whiskers]

That would make it a hoof

Or it could just be an another arthrodesis gone mad...

 

[jonwill]

Or it could just be an another arthrodesis gone mad...

Whoa, whiskers is back!!! Where ya been?

 

[whiskers]

Whoa, whiskers is back!!! Where ya been?

I returned to earth and was spending my time carrying on the work of Dr. All-Good, living with apes in the wild and carefully noting their polite social patterns.

Then

I awoke one dark morning and a band of wild cheetahs were lurking around and that decent society of well mannered apes was gone.

In any event, it's good to be alive and back at Moon Boot U.

 

[Northerner]

Why do some professionals, say Orthopods and the AOFAS think that there is 26 bones in the foot? While us Podiatry professionals will claim 28 because of the two sesamoids on the plantar surface of the head of the 1st metatarsals?

I would think that the sesamoid apparatus would be so important to any foot and ankle professional.

Or is there something that I am not catching here??

Trying to pick a fight, eh?

 

[doclm]

Trying to pick a fight, eh?

Well, I just wanted to know the reasoning why some say there is only 26 bones in the foot, instead of 28.

Some good points have been made.

Whats your opinion on this?

 

[foothealth]

IF you go to this site, you will see that the author's opinions on foot and the bones.
http://books.google.com/books?q=anatomy+of+foot&btnG=Search+Books&as_brr=0