Top of the foot (dorsum)
Dorsum pedis
The top of the foot is called the dorsum. The tarsal bones and metatarsals lie close to the surface there, covered only by skin, tendons and a thin layer of muscle.
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Free 3D model of the top of the foot. Right foot. Drag to rotate, zoom with + and − (or Ctrl + scroll), click a bone to highlight and name it.
- Tarsal bones
- Metatarsal bones
- Phalanges
Key points
- The top of the foot is called the dorsum.
- The bones lie close under the skin there.
- The highest part, over the navicular and cuneiforms, is the instep.
- Tendons to the toes and a main artery cross these bones.
What is the top of the foot called?
The upper surface of the foot is the dorsum. The word dorsal describes anything on that side. It is the opposite of the plantar surface, the sole.
What bones are on the top of the foot?
From above, the three rows are easy to see. Nearest the ankle are the talus, navicular, cuneiforms and cuboid. In front of them the five metatarsals fan out. Beyond those are the toe bones.
What can you feel on the top of the foot?
There is little padding on the dorsum, so the bones are easy to trace. The shafts of the metatarsals are the ridges running to each toe. The highest point, the instep, lies over the navicular and cuneiforms.
What runs over the bones?
The tendons that lift the toes cross the dorsum and stand out when you raise your toes. The dorsalis pedis artery runs over the tarsal bones beside the tendon to the big toe, which is where the foot pulse is felt.
Why is the top of the foot so bony?
The sole is padded with fat and four layers of muscle. The dorsum has almost none of either. Only one small muscle sits on top of the foot, on the outer side in front of the ankle. Everywhere else, skin and tendons lie directly on bone.
That is why a tight shoe or a dropped object hurts more on the top of the foot, and why swelling shows there first.
Common problems on the top of the foot
Pain on top of the foot may come from a stress fracture of a metatarsal, from irritated tendons under tight laces, or from arthritis of the midfoot joints, which can raise a bony ridge. This page describes anatomy only.
Common questions
What is the dorsum of the foot?
The top surface of the foot.
What bones are on the top of the foot?
The talus, navicular, cuneiforms and cuboid, then the five metatarsals.
What is the instep?
The raised middle part of the top of the foot, over the navicular and cuneiforms.
What is the opposite of dorsal in the foot?
Plantar, meaning toward the sole.
Is this 3D model of the top of the foot free?
Yes. The interactive 3D model on this page is free to view and use for study, with no account or download needed. Its geometry comes from the open BodyParts3D data set (CC BY-SA).
About this free 3D model of the top of the foot
The interactive 3D model on this page is free to use in your browser, with no sign-up. It is built from scan-based anatomy data, so every bone is a separate, correctly placed shape you can turn and inspect from any side.