Achilles & Heel - Anatomy and Imaging

The Achilles tendon, plantar fascia and other tissues attach to the heel. This part of the foot is very important to walking.

Bones

The heel bone is called the calcaneus.

Achilles tendon

This is one of the largest tendons in the human body. It connects the strong calf muscles to the calcaneus.

Like all tendons, the Achilles tendon:

transmit the force of muscle contraction to bone, causing limb movement
has a complex structure and undergoes repeated loading
blood supply is not as good as muscle so its healing ability is also not as good.

Interesting fact: this tendon is named after the mythical Greek warrior Achilles. The heel was his only weak spot and this contributed to his death ("thanks, Mum").

Heel from the side - model
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Heel from the side - Xray
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Plantaris tendon - 90% of people have a very thin tendon running on the inner (medial) side of the Achilles tendon called plantaris. It has no useful function.

Interesting facts: plantaris has the longest tendon in the human body, starting behind the knee and going all the way down to the heel. It is also called the "monkey muscle" as it helps them climb trees.

Paratenon - the Achilles tendon is surrounded by a thin layer of tissue called the paratenon. This allows the tendon to glide smoothly under the skin.

Kager's fat pad - this tissue sits between the paratenon and the muscles at the back of the ankle.

Retrocalcaneal bursa - is a fluid-filled sac located at the back of the heel under the Achilles tendon. It contains lubricating fluid that reduces friction between the tendon and bone.

Plantaris tendon
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MRI - from side
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Plantar fascia

The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue just under the sole of foot. It runs from the heel bone to the toes and supports the arch of the foot.

There is also a special area of padding under the heel bone called the heel fat pad. It thins out with aging.

Tarsal tunnel

The tarsal tunnel is a passage from the leg to the foot behind the inner (medial) ankle. Tendons, blood vessels and nerves pass through it (area outlined in blue).