All Topics  
Heel

 

 
   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link
 

 

Heel
 
 
  Topics Heel Topic Home

The heel is the prominence at the posterior end of the foot
Foot

The foot is an anatomical structure found in many animals. It is the terminal portion of a limb which bears weight and allows locomotion. In many animals with feet, the foot is a separate organ at the terminal part of the leg made up of one or more segments or bones, generally including claws or nails....
. It is based on the projection of one bone
Bone

Bones are rigid organ that form part of the endoskeleton of vertebrates. They function to move, support, and protect the various organs of the body, produce red blood cell and white blood cells and store minerals....
, the calcaneus
Calcaneus

In humans, the calcaneus or heel bone is a bone of the Tarsus of the foot which constitute the heel. In some other animals, it is the point of the hock ....
, behind the articulation of the bones of the lower leg
Human leg

In common usage, the human leg is the lower limb of the human body, extending from the knee to the ankle, and excluding the thigh,The largest bone in the human body, the femur, is in the leg ....
. In the long-footed mammals, both the hoofed species (unguligrade) and the clawed forms which walk on the toes (digitigrade
Digitigrade

A digitigrade is an animal that stands or walks on its digits, or toes. Digitigrades include walking birds , cats, dogs, and most other mammals, but not humans, bears, and a few others ....
), the heel is well above the ground at the apex of the angular joint known as the hock
Hock (zoology)

The hock, or gambrel, is the tarsal joint of a digitigrade quadruped, such as a horse, cat, or dog. It is the anatomical Homology of the ankle of the human foot....
. In plantigrade
Plantigrade

In mammals, plantigrade locomotion means walking with the podials and metatarsals flat on the ground.Primates are examples of plantigrade species; in humans, the podials and metatarsals constitute the sole of the foot....
 species it rests on the ground.








Discussion
Ask a question about 'Heel'
Start a new discussion about 'Heel'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


The heel is the prominence at the posterior end of the foot
Foot

The foot is an anatomical structure found in many animals. It is the terminal portion of a limb which bears weight and allows locomotion. In many animals with feet, the foot is a separate organ at the terminal part of the leg made up of one or more segments or bones, generally including claws or nails....
. It is based on the projection of one bone
Bone

Bones are rigid organ that form part of the endoskeleton of vertebrates. They function to move, support, and protect the various organs of the body, produce red blood cell and white blood cells and store minerals....
, the calcaneus
Calcaneus

In humans, the calcaneus or heel bone is a bone of the Tarsus of the foot which constitute the heel. In some other animals, it is the point of the hock ....
, behind the articulation of the bones of the lower leg
Human leg

In common usage, the human leg is the lower limb of the human body, extending from the knee to the ankle, and excluding the thigh,The largest bone in the human body, the femur, is in the leg ....
. In the long-footed mammals, both the hoofed species (unguligrade) and the clawed forms which walk on the toes (digitigrade
Digitigrade

A digitigrade is an animal that stands or walks on its digits, or toes. Digitigrades include walking birds , cats, dogs, and most other mammals, but not humans, bears, and a few others ....
), the heel is well above the ground at the apex of the angular joint known as the hock
Hock (zoology)

The hock, or gambrel, is the tarsal joint of a digitigrade quadruped, such as a horse, cat, or dog. It is the anatomical Homology of the ankle of the human foot....
. In plantigrade
Plantigrade

In mammals, plantigrade locomotion means walking with the podials and metatarsals flat on the ground.Primates are examples of plantigrade species; in humans, the podials and metatarsals constitute the sole of the foot....
 species it rests on the ground.

See also

  • Achilles' heel
    Achilles' heel

    An Achilles? heel is a fatal weakness in spite of overall strength, actually or potentially leading to downfall. While the mythological origin refers to a physical vulnerability, metaphorical references to other attributes or qualities that can lead to their downfall are common....
  • Siegfried
    Siegfried

    Siegfried is a German language male given name, meaning "victory peace".Siegfried may also refer to:*Siegfried , an opera by Richard Wagner...
     in the Nibelungenlied
    Nibelungenlied

    The Nibelungenlied, translated as The Song of the Nibelungs, is an epic poetry in Middle High German. The story tells of dragon-slayer Sigurd at the court of the Burgundians, how he was murdered, and of his wife Gudrun's revenge....