Answer
The transverse and longitudinal arches are held in such positions that the middle of the arches do not ordinarily touch the ground if one stands or walks on flat surfaces. The arched conformations are maintained by the binding of tendons and ligaments. However, the arches are not rigid and immovable, but flexible. This means that when weight is applied to the feet, the arches stretch and flatten somewhat. But when the weight is lifted or removed, the elasticity of the arches allows them to recoil to their previous conformations. This ability to store energy and to recover their conformations after being deformed by weight, enables the arches of the feet to act as efficient shock absorbers.
Work Step by Step
Each foot has three arches- two longitudinal and one transverse arch-- really a lateral and a medial aspect of a longitudinal arch, and a transverse arch.
The medial longitudinal arch starts in the calcaneus, rises to the talus, passes through the navicular, and ends anteriorly in the cuneiforms and the metatarsals. The lateral component of the longitudinal arch also starts in the calcaneus. It then rises to the cuboid ( highest point), descends to the ball of the foot at the heads of the lateral metatarsals. The transverse arch trends between the medial and lateral aspects of the foot. It is formed by the navicular, three cuneiforms, and the bases of the five metacarpals
The bones which form the arches are held in their arcuate positions by ligaments and tendons. The collagen and elastic tissues of the binding structure enable the arches to deform( flatten), when weight is applied to them, and to recoil and resume their original shapes when the weight is lifted. The elasticity or flexibility of the arches enable them to perform the following functions:
1. Support the weight of the body
2. Distribute the body's weight over soft and hard tissues
3. Increase leverage of muscles of walking
4. Store energy
