Plantar fascia

Last revised by Henry Knipe on 11 May 2022

The plantar fascia or plantar aponeurosis is a dense collection of collagen fibers on the sole (plantar surface) of the foot. These fibers are mostly longitudinal but also transverse.

Gross anatomy

Posteriorly it attaches to the medial process of the tuberosity of the calcaneus, proximal to flexor digitorum brevis. It is narrow and thick at this attachment and becomes more broad and thin distally and anteriorly.

Anteriorly it divides into five heads, one for each toe, just proximal to the heads of the metatarsals. The superficial layers of these fibers insert into the dermis at the ball of the foot and the crease between the ball and the toes via the retinacula cutis (skin ligaments). The deep layers of each digit become septa that separate the digital flexor tendons from the lumbricals and the digital vessels and nerves. 

Laterally it covers abductor digiti minimi

Medially it covers abductor hallucis and merges with the flexor retinaculum and dorsalis paedis fascia.

Related pathology

ADVERTISEMENT: Supporters see fewer/no ads

Updating… Please wait.

 Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.

 Thank you for updating your details.