The tarsal bones make up the ankle and the back part of the foot. The front row of the tarsal bones contains the lateral cuneiform, falling between the second cuneiform and cuboid, along with the navicular bone. The lateral cuneiform is located between two other cuneiform bones (all of which are wedge-shaped) and is of intermediate size. The lateral cuneiform is also called the third cuneiform and the external cuneiform.
There are two lateral cuneiform bones, both of which are found in the ankle region of the human body. This bone works to support the body while also playing an important role in movement.
This bone is found near the outside of the foot, more so than the other cuneiform bones. It is located at the base of the third metatarsal bone, which lies behind the bones of the middle toe.
Traumatic fractures of this bone are rare, since the bone is relatively small. Some X-rays may have difficulty spotting fractures or breaks of the lateral cuneiform bone due to the small size and rarity of this injury. If this bone is misplaced or injured frequently, it can lead to post-traumatic arthritis.