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Lateral process of calcaneal tuberosity

The lateral process of the calcaneal tuberosity is a bony projection on the posteroinferolateral aspect of the calcaneus, forming part of the posterior heel. It contributes to the contour of the heel and serves as an attachment site for plantar fascia components and adjacent soft tissues.

It is an important landmark in hindfoot anatomy, trauma assessment, plantar fascia evaluation, and imaging of heel pain.

Synonyms

  • Lateral tubercle of the calcaneus

  • Lateral plantar tubercle

Location

  • Situated on the posteroinferolateral surface of the calcaneus

  • Forms the lateral portion of the calcaneal tuberosity

  • Inferior to the calcaneal body

  • Lateral to the medial calcaneal tubercle

  • Forms part of the weight-bearing heel surface

Anatomical components

  • Osseous projection of the calcaneus

  • Cortical shell with underlying cancellous bone

  • Attachment site for:

    • Lateral band of the plantar fascia

    • Adjacent plantar ligaments

  • Interface with plantar fat pad

Relations

Posteriorly:

  • Heel skin and subcutaneous fat pad

Anteriorly:

  • Calcaneal body

Medially:

  • Medial calcaneal tubercle

Laterally:

  • Lateral soft tissues of the heel

Inferiorly:

  • Plantar fat pad

Superiorly:

  • Inferior surface of the calcaneus

X-ray appearance

Plain radiographs (lateral and axial heel views):

  • Lateral process: Seen as a small bony prominence at the posteroinferior calcaneus

  • Contour: Smooth projection continuous with the calcaneal tuberosity

  • Best visualized on: Lateral and Harris axial views

CT appearance

Non-contrast CT:

  • Lateral process: Well-defined cortical projection from the posterolateral calcaneus

  • Cortical margins: Smooth and sharply outlined

  • Trabecular pattern: Normal cancellous bone texture

  • Anatomical clarity: Excellent delineation from adjacent calcaneal body

MRI appearance

T1-weighted images:

  • Cortical bone: Low signal intensity

  • Marrow within tuberosity: High signal

  • Lateral process contour: Clearly outlined against surrounding fat

T2-weighted images:

  • Cortex: Low signal

  • Plantar fat pad: High signal

  • Adjacent plantar fascia: Low-to-intermediate signal

STIR:

  • Fat suppression: Uniform across marrow and plantar fat

  • Process margins: Well visualized

  • Soft-tissue interfaces: High contrast with suppressed fat

Proton density fat-saturated (PD FS):

  • Bone marrow: Suppressed fat signal

  • Plantar fascia attachment: Well visualized as low-signal band inserting near the lateral process

  • Heel soft tissues: Clearly delineated

CT VRT 3D image

Lateral process of calcaneal tuberosity 3d

MRI image

Lateral process of calcaneal tuberosity mri anatomy labelled image-img-00000-00000

MRI image

Lateral process of calcaneal tuberosity mri anatomy labelled image-img-00000-00000_00001