Cuboid Bone

Author: Dr Peter de Souza
Last modified: 13 December 2020

Cuboid Bone

The structure indicated is the cuboid bone of the foot.

The foot contains three groups of bones:

  1. Tarsals
  2. Metatarsals
  3. Phalanges

The cuboid bone is one of seven tarsal bones. There are three groups of tarsal bones:

  • Proximal group
  • Intermediate group
  • Distal group

The cuboid bone belongs to the distal group of tarsal bones. There are four bones in the distal group:

  1. Lateral cuneiform
  2. Intermediate cuneiform
  3. Medial cuneiform
  4. Cuboid

The cuboid bone is the most lateral bone in the distal row of tarsal bones, it is named on the basis of its shape which roughly resembles a cube. The plantar surface of the cuboid bone contains a groove through which the tendon of the peroneus longus travels from the lateral aspect of the foot to insert medially at the base of the first metatarsal and on the medial cuneiform bone. The tibialis posterior muscle inserts onto the plantar surface of the cuboid bone.

Learn more about the bones of the foot in this anatomy tutorial.