The cuneiform bones (Latin: ossa cuneiformia) are a set of three tarsal bones located between the proximally situated navicular bone and distally positioned first three metatarsal bones. Lateral to the lateral cuneiform bone is the cuboid bone.

Each foot is composed of three cuneiform bones located on its medial side. All cuneiform bones participate in forming the shape of the transverse arch of the foot. The cuneiform bones are named as follows:

Medial or first cuneiform
Intermediate (middle) or second cuneiform
Lateral or third cuneiform

Human foot, Foot bones, Foot skeleton, Human skeleton, Cuneiform bones, Bones of foot, Skeleton of lower limb, Medial cuneiform bone, Lateral cuneiform bone, Intermediate (middle) cuneiform bone, Superior view of foot, Dorsal view of foot, Dorsal surface of foot — Cuneiform bones by Anatomy.app

Each cuneiform bone articulates with each other and the adjacent bones, and all of them present four articular surfaces:

Posterior articular surface
Anterior articular surface
Lateral articular surface
Medial articular surface

The posterior articular surfaces of all cuneiform bones articulate with the navicular bone, while the anterior articular surfaces with the corresponding metatarsal bones. The lateral and medial articular surfaces articulate with the surfaces of the adjacent cuneiform bones. But the lateral surface of the lateral cuneiform bone articulates with the cuboid bone.

Medial cuneiform bone

The medial cuneiform bone (Latin: os cuneiforme mediale), or simply the first cuneiform, is the largest of all three cuneiform bones. It articulates with four bones - navicular bone, intermediate cuneiform bone, and the first and second metatarsal bones. The medial cuneiform bone serves as an insertion site for two muscles - tibialis anterior and peroneus longus muscles.

Human skeleton, Human foot, Foot bones, Skeleton of foot, Medial cuneiform, Tarsals, Lateral view of medial cuneiform, Dorsal view of medial cuneiform, Plantar view of medial cuneiform, Medial view of medial cuneiform, Inferior view of medial cuneiform, Superior view of medial cuneiform, Skeleton of lower limb — Medial cuneiform by Anatomy.app

Medial cuneifrom (medial view) by Anatomy.app

Medial cuneiform (lateral view) by Anatomy.app

Medial cuneiform (anteromedial view) by Anatomy.app

Medial cuneiform (posterior view) by Anatomy.app

Intermediate cuneiform bone

The intermediate cuneiform bone (Latin: os cuneiforme intermedium), also known as the second cuneiform or the middle cuneiform, is the smallest cuneiform bone. It is situated between the lateral and medial cuneiform bones. The intermediate cuneiform articulates with four bones - navicular bone, medial and lateral cuneiform bones, and the second metatarsal bone.

Human skeleton, Human foot, Foot bones, Skeleton of foot, Intermediate (middle) cuneiform, Tarsals, Lateral view of intermediate (middle) cuneiform, Dorsal view of intermediate (middle) cuneiform, Plantar view of intermediate (middle) cuneiform, Medial view of intermediate (middle) cuneiform, Inferior view of intermediate (middle) cuneiform, Superior view of intermediate (middle) cuneiform, Skeleton of lower limb — Intermediate (middle) cuneiform by Anatomy.app

Intermediate cuneiform (anteromedial view) by Anatomy.app

Intermediate cuneiform (lateral view) by Anatomy.app

Intermediate cuneiform (superoposterior view) by Anatomy.app

Intermediate cuneiform (posteromedial view0 — Intermediate cuneiform (posteromedial view) by Anatomy.app

Lateral cuneiform bone

The lateral cuneiform bone (Latin: os cuneiforme laterale) is also known as the third or external cuneiform. It articulates with four bones - intermediate cuneiform, cuboid bone, navicular bone, and the third metatarsal bone. The lateral cuneiform bone serves as an attachment site for two muscles. The tibialis posterior muscle inserts onto the bone, but the flexor hallucis brevis muscle originates from it.

Human skeleton, Human foot, Foot bones, Skeleton of foot, Lateral cuneiform, Tarsals, Lateral view of lateral cuneiform, Dorsal view of lateral cuneiform, Plantar view of lateral cuneiform, Medial view of lateral cuneiform, Inferior view of lateral cuneiform, Superior view of lateral cuneiform, Skeleton of lower limb — Lateral cuneiform by Anatomy.app

Lateral cuneiform (anteromedial view) by Anatomy.app

Lateral cuneiform (superomedial view) by Anatomy.app

Lateral cuneiform (superolateral view) by Anatomy.app

Lateral cuneiform (posteromedial view) by Anatomy.app

Cuneiform bones

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