Arches of the foot

Looks like

The curves of the foot — a long arch on the inner side, a lower one on the outer side and a cross arch across the midfoot.

What it does

Make the foot a flexible spring that absorbs shock and then a rigid lever for push-off.

Keeping it well

Flat feet are normal in young children and most adults with them have no trouble. An arch that collapses on one side in adulthood needs a tendon check.

Related conditions

• Buerger's disease (thromboangiitis obliterans)
• Bunion & foot deformity
• Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease
• Chronic venous insufficiency
• Clubfoot (talipes equinovarus)
• Flat feet (pes planus)
• Ganglion cyst
• Gout
• Haemophilia & bleeding disorders
• Hammer toe and claw toe
• Lyme disease
• Lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis)
• Lymphoedema
• Marfan syndrome & connective tissue disorders
• Morton's neuroma
• Osteoarthritis
• Plantar fasciitis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Restless legs syndrome
• Rheumatic fever & rheumatic heart disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Temporomandibular joint disorder
• Varicose veins
• Venomous snakebite