Plantar fascia
Aponeurosis plantaris
MuscularSuperficial musclesLegLeft and right
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- What it is
- The plantar aponeurosis: a thick, pearly fibrous sheet under the sole, from the medial tubercle of the calcaneus fanning out into five slips that attach to the toes via the plantar plates and flexor sheaths.
- Function
- Ties the heel to the toes like a bowstring, supporting the longitudinal arch; it tightens when the toes extend at push-off (windlass mechanism).
- Size
- About 20 cm long; 2-4 mm thick at the heel.
- Clinical note
- Plantar fasciitis - heel pain worst with the first steps in the morning - is the commonest cause of heel pain in adults.