Which bone is commonly known as the heel bone?

• A. Navicular
• B. Calcaneus
• C. Talus
• D. Cuboid

Answer: (B)

Calcaneus, the heel bone, is the largest tarsal bone and sits at the back of the foot, forming the prominent heel you stand on. It bears most of the body's weight and serves as the pulley for the Achilles tendon, enabling powerful push-off during walking and running. It also forms part of the ankle joint with the talus above and connects forward to the cuboid and other midfoot bones to support the arch.

The navicular, talus, and cuboid are other tarsal bones with different locations and roles: the navicular lies in the midfoot in front of the talus, the talus sits atop the calcaneus forming the true ankle joint, and the cuboid is on the lateral side in front of the calcaneus. None of these are the heel bone.