[Morphologic and functional structure of talar articular surfaces of the calcaneus]

The shape of the talar articular surfaces of calcaneus are described. The structure of articular cartilage is examined by means of the split line method. Comparing the split line patterns with the trajectorial patterns found in the photoelastic experiments the functional structure of the articular cartilage can be demonstrated. In the case of the facies articularis talaris posterior the stress increases to the centre of the articular surface. It is the first description of this type of stress distribution.