An official website of the United States government
Here’s how you know
Official websites use .gov A
.gov website belongs to an official government
organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A
lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to
the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official,
secure websites.
URL of this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/imagepages/20016.htm
Tarsal Tunnel
Overview
The tarsal tunnel is located on the inside of your ankle. This passageway is formed by three bones (the tibia, talus, and calcaneus), which are covered by a fibrous connective tissue band (flexor retinaculum). The nerves, blood vessels, and tendons that help the foot move run through the tarsal tunnel. One of those nerves is called the tibial nerve. When the tibial nerve is compressed in the tunnel, numbness, tingling, weakness, and muscle damage in the foot can happen.
Review Date 4/10/2026
Updated by: Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Department of Neurology, Cooper Medical School at Rowan University, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
