The talus is located in the tarsus.
The etymology of astragalus takes us to the Latin word astragălus , in turn derived from the Greek astragalus . The term is used in anatomy , architecture , botany and in the military field .
At an anatomical level, one of the bones that make up the tarsus is known as the talus. The tarsus, meanwhile, is the set of seven bone pieces found in each posterior limb, located between the bones of the metatarsus and the leg.
The talus, also referred to as cheetah or taba , is located in the ankle area and articulates with the tibia and fibula . It is a short bone that enables the union of the foot with the leg.
Unlike the rest of the bones, the talus lacks a muscular insertion. It has a head , neck and body and it is possible to distinguish six faces in it.
Injuries to the talus
The body of the talus is its most posterior and voluminous sector. Various cartilage damages can occur in this part, either due to acute trauma or small repetitive trauma.
These injuries , which can cause anything from discomfort when moving to disabling pain, are diagnosed through x-rays, CT scans or MRIs. Treatment may be surgical or simply require the use of insoles.
A talus fracture , on the other hand, can occur in the body, neck, or head of the bone. It is usually diagnosed with an x-ray and can be treated surgically or conservatively.
The taba game
It is important to mention that, so far, in this article we are referring to the astragalus in humans . This bone, however, is present in other species.
The astragalus of certain animals is used for the development of the game of taba . Generally the lamb's talus is used, which is thrown on a table or on the floor as if it were a dice .
The game consists of trying to guess which side of the talus or taba will be up after the throw. The usual thing is to bet units or chips that are won if the protruding parts of the talus are visible, while they are lost if the upper side remains sunken.
Classic columns usually have an astragal.
The astragalus in architecture
In the field of architecture , the astragalus is the ring that represents the beginning of the capital , surrounding the shaft of the column . This is an element of decoration that usually consists of two discs.
The tali are part of the classic columns . Its use was frequent in the Ionic and Doric orders , giving rise to a unity with the capital by constituting the lower region of its drum.
Tragacanth, a shrub native to Asia
The dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ) mentions that astragalus can be used as a synonym for tragacanth . This is the name given to a shrub that can be up to two meters high with whitish flowers.
A gum known as gum tragacanth flows from the branches and trunk of the talus. This rubber has various industrial uses.
It should be noted, finally, that an ornamentation that certain pieces of artillery displayed in ancient times is also called astragalus. It was a cord that was located between two fillets.