Editing Heel (section)

== Function ==
The compressive forces applied to the foot are distributed along five rays, three medial (side of big toe) and two lateral (side of little toe). The lateral rays stretch over the [[cuboid bone]] to the [[calcaneus|heel bone]] and the medial rays over the three cuneiform bones and the [[navicular bone]] to the [[ankle bone]]. Because the ankle bone is placed over the heel bone, these rays are adjacent near the toes but overriding near the heel, and together they form the [[arches of the foot]] that are optimized to distributed compressive forces across an uneven terrain. In this context the heel thus forms the posterior point of support that together with the [[ball (anatomy)|balls]] of the large and little toes bear the brunt of the loads.<ref>''Thieme Atlas'' 2006, p 412</ref>