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Biomedicines
Volume 13
Issue 12
10.3390/biomedicines13123052
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Review

What is Inside the Sinus Tarsi? Mechanoreceptor Distribution, Typing and Clinical Relevance—A Histological and Immunohistochemical Synthesis

by
Alberto Arceri
1,2,
Antonio Mazzotti
1,2,*,
Gianmarco Di Paola
1,
Federico Sgubbi
1,
Laura Langone
1,
Simone Ottavio Zielli
1,
Francesca Veronesi
3,
Gianluca Giavaresi
3,
Paolo Mora
2 and
Cesare Faldini
1,2
1
1st Orthopaedics and Traumatologic Clinic, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy
2
Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 40123 Bologna, Italy
3
Surgical Sciences and Technologies, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via Di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Biomedicines 2025, 13(12), 3052; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13123052
Submission received: 6 November 2025 / Revised: 2 December 2025 / Accepted: 9 December 2025 / Published: 11 December 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Insights and Translational Approaches in Musculoskeletal Disorders)
Versions Notes

Abstract

The sinus tarsi, a small osseoligamentous recess of the subtalar joint, contains multiple soft-tissue structures with a complex sensory network. However, the detailed neural architecture and clinical significance of its innervation remain incompletely defined. The aim of this study was to conduct a comprehensive review of histological and immunohistochemical studies on the neural structures of the sinus tarsi. Histological staining and validated immunohistochemical markers (S100, p75, PGP9.5, neurofilament, myelin basic protein) were the methods used in these studies to analyze human sinus tarsi tissue. Across all investigations, free nerve endings predominated, while Ruffini, Pacinian and Golgi-like corpuscles were variably identified, mainly near ligament insertions. The sinus tarsi exhibits a dense and heterogeneous neural network that likely contributes to both pain perception and sensorimotor control. Further standardized and quantitative research is warranted to clarify the neurofunctional role of this region.
Keywords: sinus tarsi; mechanoreceptors; proprioception; immunohistochemistry; free nerve endings sinus tarsi; mechanoreceptors; proprioception; immunohistochemistry; free nerve endings

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MDPI and ACS Style

Arceri, A.; Mazzotti, A.; Di Paola, G.; Sgubbi, F.; Langone, L.; Zielli, S.O.; Veronesi, F.; Giavaresi, G.; Mora, P.; Faldini, C. What is Inside the Sinus Tarsi? Mechanoreceptor Distribution, Typing and Clinical Relevance—A Histological and Immunohistochemical Synthesis. Biomedicines 2025, 13, 3052. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13123052

AMA Style

Arceri A, Mazzotti A, Di Paola G, Sgubbi F, Langone L, Zielli SO, Veronesi F, Giavaresi G, Mora P, Faldini C. What is Inside the Sinus Tarsi? Mechanoreceptor Distribution, Typing and Clinical Relevance—A Histological and Immunohistochemical Synthesis. Biomedicines. 2025; 13(12):3052. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13123052

Chicago/Turabian Style

Arceri, Alberto, Antonio Mazzotti, Gianmarco Di Paola, Federico Sgubbi, Laura Langone, Simone Ottavio Zielli, Francesca Veronesi, Gianluca Giavaresi, Paolo Mora, and Cesare Faldini. 2025. "What is Inside the Sinus Tarsi? Mechanoreceptor Distribution, Typing and Clinical Relevance—A Histological and Immunohistochemical Synthesis" Biomedicines 13, no. 12: 3052. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13123052

APA Style

Arceri, A., Mazzotti, A., Di Paola, G., Sgubbi, F., Langone, L., Zielli, S. O., Veronesi, F., Giavaresi, G., Mora, P., & Faldini, C. (2025). What is Inside the Sinus Tarsi? Mechanoreceptor Distribution, Typing and Clinical Relevance—A Histological and Immunohistochemical Synthesis. Biomedicines, 13(12), 3052. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13123052

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