Lower limb: arches of the foot: practice question

A Anatomy question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Anatomy · Lower limb: arches of the foot

Sample item

A 55-year-old woman develops progressive flatfoot after degeneration of the tibialis posterior tendon. Which ligament, which directly supports the head of the talus and the medial longitudinal arch, is progressively stretched?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Plantar calcaneonavicular (spring) ligament

The plantar calcaneonavicular ligament stretches from the sustentaculum tali to the navicular and supports the head of the talus like a sling, forming part of the socket of the talocalcaneonavicular joint. The tibialis posterior tendon reinforces it, so tendon failure allows the head of the talus to sag and the medial arch to collapse.

Option by option

  • A. Plantar calcaneonavicular (spring) ligament (correct)

    The spring ligament carries the head of the talus and is the key static support of the medial arch.

  • B. Long plantar ligament

    The long plantar ligament supports the lateral longitudinal arch from calcaneus to cuboid and metatarsal bases.

  • C. Bifurcate ligament

    The bifurcate ligament lies on the lateral side of the foot linking calcaneus to cuboid and navicular.

  • D. Calcaneofibular ligament

    The calcaneofibular ligament is a lateral ankle ligament and does not support the talar head.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is A, Plantar calcaneonavicular (spring) ligament. The plantar calcaneonavicular ligament stretches from the sustentaculum tali to the navicular and supports the head of the talus like a sling, forming part of the socket of the talocalcaneonavicular joint.

Why is "Long plantar ligament" not the answer?

The long plantar ligament supports the lateral longitudinal arch from calcaneus to cuboid and metatarsal bases.

Why is "Bifurcate ligament" not the answer?

The bifurcate ligament lies on the lateral side of the foot linking calcaneus to cuboid and navicular.

Why is "Calcaneofibular ligament" not the answer?

The calcaneofibular ligament is a lateral ankle ligament and does not support the talar head.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Lower limb: arches of the foot in Anatomy. The tibialis posterior tendon reinforces it, so tendon failure allows the head of the talus to sag and the medial arch to collapse.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Lower limb: arches of the foot?

Learn every nerve by its route, its muscles and what a lesion looks like at the bedside. That one habit answers a large share of questions. Then use the flashcards and the other Anatomy questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.