Dorsal cuneonavicular ligaments
Ligamenta cuneonavicularia dorsalia
Short fibrous slips on the top of the midfoot joining the navicular bone to each of the three cuneiform bones in front of it.
At a glance
- English
- Dorsal cuneonavicular ligaments
- Latin (TA2)
- Ligamenta cuneonavicularia dorsalia
- System
- Ligament
- Region
- Foot
- Side
- Paired, left and right
About the dorsal cuneonavicular ligaments
The navicular is the boat-shaped bone on the inner side of the foot, sitting in front of the head of the talus. Its front surface carries three facets, one for each of the cuneiform bones: medial, intermediate and lateral. These meet it at the cuneonavicular joint, a compound plane joint whose synovial cavity is usually continuous with the joints between the cuneiforms and with part of the tarsometatarsal region.
The dorsal cuneonavicular ligaments are small, separate bands across the top of this joint, one for each cuneiform. Each runs forwards from the upper surface of the navicular to the upper surface of the cuneiform in front of it. The band to the medial cuneiform continues round the inner side of the joint, where it joins a medial slip. On the underside, similar plantar cuneonavicular ligaments, reinforced by expansions of the tibialis posterior tendon, hold the joint from below.
The tendons of extensor hallucis longus and extensor digitorum longus, the dorsalis pedis artery and the deep fibular nerve all run over these ligaments on the top of the foot, separated from them by fascia.
The cuneonavicular joint allows only a little gliding, and its ligaments help lock the medial column of the foot into a firm unit. This forms part of the medial longitudinal arch and transmits force from the talus forwards to the first three metatarsals during push-off. Sprains of these ligaments are part of the spectrum of midfoot injuries; collapse or arthritis at this joint can contribute to a flattened medial arch, and fusion of the joint is one surgical treatment for painful flatfoot.
Attachments and function
- Attaches from
- The upper surface of the navicular.
- Attaches to
- The dorsal surfaces of the medial, intermediate and lateral cuneiforms, one slip to each.
- Function
- Binds the navicular to the three cuneiforms across the top of the cuneonavicular joint, stiffening the medial column and arch of the foot.
- Nerve supply
- Branches of the deep fibular nerve.
- Blood supply
- Branches of the dorsalis pedis artery, including the medial tarsal arteries.
Anthromica
See the dorsal cuneonavicular ligaments where it really sits, with every layer of the body around it.
- Every layer, one body. Peel from muscle to bone, nerve, vessel and organ, and turn it any way.
- English and Latin. Every structure named the way your exam names it.
- Quiz until it sticks. Short drills on the structures you keep missing.
Free to start. No card.
