The surface for the part of the bifurcate ligament between the heel and navicular bones.

The surface for the part of the bifurcate ligament between the heel and navicular bones.

• A. Fovea for ligament of head of femur
• B. Facet for calcaneonavicular part of bifurcate ligament
• C. Lateral condyle of femur
• D. Facet for plantar calcaneonavicular ligament

Answer: (B)

Understanding the bifurcate ligament and its attachment sites on the calcaneus helps you see why this surface is the correct choice. The bifurcate ligament (the Y-shaped ligament from the calcaneus) splits into two parts: one to the navicular and one to the cuboid. On the calcaneus there is a specific facet that articulates with the navicular bone via the calcaneonavicular part of the bifurcate ligament. That facet is called the facet for the calcaneonavicular part of the bifurcate ligament. The other options point to different structures: the fovea for the ligament of the head of the femur is a hip joint feature, the lateral condyle of the femur is part of the knee, and the facet for plantar calcaneonavicular ligament relates to the spring ligament (plantar calcaneonavicular ligament) on a different, plantar aspect.

Understanding the bifurcate ligament and its attachment sites on the calcaneus helps you see why this surface is the correct choice. The bifurcate ligament (the Y-shaped ligament from the calcaneus) splits into two parts: one to the navicular and one to the cuboid. On the calcaneus there is a specific facet that articulates with the navicular bone via the calcaneonavicular part of the bifurcate ligament. That facet is called the facet for the calcaneonavicular part of the bifurcate ligament.

The other options point to different structures: the fovea for the ligament of the head of the femur is a hip joint feature, the lateral condyle of the femur is part of the knee, and the facet for plantar calcaneonavicular ligament relates to the spring ligament (plantar calcaneonavicular ligament) on a different, plantar aspect.