calcaneus

anatomy

Also known as: heel bone

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Last updated

June 17, 2026

Quick Summary

The calcaneus is the large bone that forms the heel of the human foot. It is the largest of the tarsal bones and is located below the ankle. The calcaneus articulates with the talus bone above and the cuboid bone in front.12

The posterior part of the calcaneus, known as the tuber calcanei, bears significant weight when standing. A unique feature in humans is a small protuberance on the side of the tuber calcanei, which aids in balance while standing upright. The Achilles tendon attaches to the back of the calcaneus, and this bone functions as a lever for calf muscles during walking and as a weight-bearing structure. The calcaneus first appeared in crocodilian reptiles and is retained in mammals, though it was lost in birds through fusion with other bones.2

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tarsal
The calcaneus, or heel bone, is the largest tarsal and forms the prominence at the back of the foot. The remaining tarsals include the navicular, cuboid, and three cuneiforms. The cuboid and cuneiforms adjoin the metatarsal bones in a firm, nearly immovable joint.
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The calcaneus, or heel bone, is the largest tarsal and forms the prominence at the back of the foot. The remaining tarsals include the navicular, cuboid, and three cuneiforms. The cuboid and cuneiforms adjoin the metatarsal bones in a firm, nearly immovable joint.
Read More

heel
The contained tarsal bone, the calcaneus, appears first among the crocodilian reptiles; it was lost in birds by fusion with other tarsals and metatarsals but retained in mammals.
Read More
The contained tarsal bone, the calcaneus, appears first among the crocodilian reptiles; it was lost in birds by fusion with other tarsals and metatarsals but retained in mammals.
Read More