Foot · Short bone
Navicular Bone (Foot)
The navicular is a boat-shaped bone in the midfoot that helps form the arch of the foot and connects the ankle bones to the front of the foot.
What it is
The navicular is a short bone on the inner midfoot, part of the group of tarsal (ankle/midfoot) bones.
Where it is
The inner midfoot, in front of the ankle bone (talus).
What it does
Helps form and support the arch of the foot and transmits movement and load through the midfoot.
When things go wrong
Common injuries and conditions
- Navicular stress fracture (an important cause of midfoot pain in athletes)
- Accessory navicular (an extra bone some people are born with)
Education and reference only. This explains the anatomy in plain terms; it is not a diagnosis. A severe injury, a visibly deformed limb, or the inability to move or bear weight needs urgent assessment — call 999 or go to A&E for a serious injury.
Did you know?
An interesting fact
The navicular is a keystone of the foot's inner arch, so problems here can affect the whole gait.
Answers
Navicular Bone: frequently asked questions
Where is the navicular bone?
The navicular is a boat-shaped bone in the inner midfoot that helps form the arch and links the ankle to the front of the foot.
Explore the foot
Related bones
Sources
Where this is drawn from
- NHS — Anatomy and body systems
- Gray's Anatomy for Students (Drake, Vogl, Mitchell)
- TeachMeAnatomy — skeletal system
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