Corpus: Navicular bone

The navicular bone is a small bone of the foot that is involved in the formation of the arch of the foot and the talotarsal joint.

not to be confused with: Scaphoid bone of the hand (Os scaphoideum)

The navicular bone is a small bone measuring a few centimeters in diameter, which has various articular surfaces covered with cartilage. Distally it is in articular connection with the three cuneiform bones and the cuboid bone, proximally with the head of the talus. The tuberositas ossis navicularis, to which the posterior tibial muscle attaches, is located on the medial surface of the bone. The navicular bone is connected to the neighboring bones by several ligaments. These include, among others:

• calcaneonavicular ligament
• talonavicular ligament
• cuboideonavicular ligament
• dorsal cuneonavicular ligaments
• plantar cuneonavicular ligaments

The bone nucleus of the navicular bone develops between the 18th and 24th month of life in girls and between the 2nd and 3rd year of life in boys. Numerous bone nuclei may also be formed. If they do not fuse completely, an accessory navicular bone develops.

Together with the anterior articular surface of the calcaneus, the navicular bone forms the anterior joint chamber of the talotarsal joint. Due to its roughly wedge-shaped form, it also contributes to the formation of the arch of the foot.

Aseptic bone necrosis can occur in the navicular bone, particularly between the ages of 3 and 8 (Köhler's disease I). The rarely occurring fusion (coalition) with the talus is known as talonavicular coalition.