Foot Health Identifying the Midfoot Region of Your Foot By Terence Vanderheiden, DPM Terence Vanderheiden, DPM Terence Vanderheiden, DPM, is a podiatrist in Massachusetts with a subspecialty in the area of podiatric sports medicine. Learn about our editorial process Updated on November 15, 2019 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Jonathan Cluett, MD Medically reviewed by Jonathan Cluett, MD LinkedIn Twitter Jonathan Cluett, MD, is board-certified in orthopedic surgery. He served as assistant team physician to Chivas USA (Major League Soccer) and the United States men's and women's national soccer teams. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print The midfoot is one of three regions of the human foot. Its name is somewhat self-explanatory, referring to the area in the middle of the foot. It encompasses the arch of the foot and is composed of bones, tendons, and ligaments, connecting the forefoot with the hindfoot. PeopleImages / Getty Images Structure of the Human Foot The human foot is an incredibly complex part of the body, made up of 26 bones—fully 25 percent of the total number of bones in the entire body. It is strong, flexible and durable, able to bear considerable weight, impact force and general wear-and-tear as it propels us when we walk, run, jump, pivot and even simply stand still. The bones of the foot are divided into three groups: The phalanges The metatarsal bones The tarsal bones The foot is divided into three major structural areas: the forefoot, the midfoot and the hindfoot or rearfoot. Structure of the Midfoot The midfoot contains five bones known as the lesser tarsal bones as a group. These bones include: Cuboid: The cuboid bone is one of the seven tarsal bones located on the lateral or outer part of the foot and, as its name suggests, is cube-shaped. It provides stability, connecting the foot and the ankle, and assists in the movement of the toes. It is located between and articulates with the fourth and fifth metatarsal bones and calcaneus, or heel bone. It lies behind the fourth and fifth toes and in front of the heel bone.Navicular: A tarsal bone, often described as being boat-shaped, located on the top inner side of the foot that articulates with the talus (anklebone) and the cuneiform bones.Medial cuneiform: A wedge-shaped bone that makes up the joints of the middle foot. It is located on the inside of the foot behind the first metatarsal (a bone of the big toe) and in front of the navicular. The largest of the cuneiform bones, it anchors several ligaments in the foot.Intermediate cuneiform: Located between the other two cuneiform bones, it is also wedge-shaped. It articulates with the two other cuneiform bones, the second metatarsal (connected to the bones of the second toe) and the navicular bone. It is the smallest of the cuneiform bones. It is essential to the flexibility of the foot.Lateral cuneiform: Located at the center of the front tarsal bones, the lateral cuneiform sits between the third metatarsal, the cuboid, the navicular, and the intermediate cuneiform bones. Flat Feet Athletes, especially runners, can experience problems in the midfoot region of the foot. Beyond possible problems with broken bones, a common concern for some people in the midfoot area of the foot is flat feet. For those with flat feet, the first arch that runs between the heel and the toes and the second arch that is aligned across the foot are both lower to the ground, giving the appearance of a "flat foot." The condition of flat feet may not interfere with movement or present other problems, though for some walking, running and participation in sports may result in mild pain. It is usually a congenital issue, but deterioration in tissues in a normal foot can lead to flat feet. Orthotics, such as shoe inserts, are one of the most common treatments for flat feet. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 1 Source Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Cleveland Clinic. Suspect flatfoot? How you can keep it from getting worse.