The part of the foot below the ankle and behind the arch. The heel consists of the calcaneus (heel bone), an underlying pad of fat that acts as a cushion, and a layer of skin, which is usually thickened due to pressure from walking.
The heel is the hind part of the foot, formed by the CALCANEUS and the especially thick skin covering it. It is not subject to many diseases. Severe pain in the heel is sometimes a sign of gout or rheumatism.
n. the part of the foot that extends behind the ankle joint, formed by the heel bone (see calcaneus).
a black area, sometimes called a ‘talon noir’, resulting from the rupture of capillaries in the skin in those who play basketball, squash, etc. It may be mistaken for malignant melanoma.... black heel
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