A podiatrist explains that a specific ligament binds the calcaneus to the navicular and supports the head of the talus, maintaining the medial longitudinal arch. Weakening of this ligament leads to flatfoot. Which ligament is described?

• A Long plantar ligament
• B Bifurcate ligament
• C Short plantar (plantar calcaneocuboid) ligament
• D Plantar calcaneonavicular (spring) ligament ✓

Explanation

The plantar calcaneonavicular or spring ligament stretches from the sustentaculum tali of the calcaneus to the navicular and forms a hammock directly beneath the head of the talus, supporting the talocalcaneonavicular joint and the medial longitudinal arch. Its failure produces acquired flatfoot. The long and short plantar ligaments support the lateral arch and cuboid joints, and the bifurcate ligament stabilises the transverse tarsal joint between calcaneus and the naviculocuboid pair, none of them supporting the talar head.

Reference: Gray's Anatomy for Students, 4th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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