Posterior Calcaneal Articular Facet Of The Talus, Inferior View

Description

Talus morphology dominates this inferior view, with the posterior calcaneal articular facet occupying most of the plantar surface of the talar body. The facet appears as a large, deeply concave joint area positioned posteriorly and slightly lateral to the midline, wrapping toward the posterior process where the medial and lateral tubercles frame the groove for the flexor hallucis longus tendon. Anterior to it, the sulcus tali forms a transverse depression that separates the posterior facet from the more anterior articular surfaces and contributes to the tarsal canal when opposed to the calcaneal sulcus. Bone landmarks read cleanly. Subtalar congruity hinges on this posterior facet, the principal load-bearing interface between talus and calcaneus during stance, so its curvature and cartilage-bearing extent matter when teaching hindfoot biomechanics or planning reconstruction. Post-traumatic subtalar arthritis after calcaneal fracture, osteochondral injury of the talar posterior facet, and talocalcaneal coalition near the tarsal canal can all be understood by anchoring the relationship between the posterior facet and the sulcus tali. The fixed inferior perspective makes it easier to orient intraoperative subtalar anatomy, where the posterior facet guides reduction and screw trajectory assessment in calcaneal ORIF and informs portal placement for subtalar arthroscopy without confusing it with the talar trochlea of the ankle joint. Use this illustration in gross anatomy labs covering tarsal bones, in orthopedic and podiatric teaching on subtalar joint arthritis and hindfoot fractures, and in surgical atlases describing lateral hindfoot approaches, subtalar arthroscopy landmarks, or postoperative imaging correlation in CT-based planning. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.