Pes Cavus
Pronunciation: pez KAY-vus
A foot deformity characterised by an abnormally high medial longitudinal arch, often associated with neurological conditions and requiring specialist orthotic management.
Full Definition
Pes cavus (Latin: 'hollow foot') describes a structural foot type in which the arch is excessively elevated, leading to increased pressure on the metatarsal heads and heel. It is the clinical and editorial opposite of pes planus (flatfoot). The condition is frequently associated with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and other neurological disorders. In orthotic clinical writing, pes cavus and pes planus are used as anatomical descriptor terms rather than diagnoses. Editors should note that both terms are italicised in strict Latin usage but appear in roman type in most modern clinical and orthotics documents.
Usage
Usage note: Roman type is standard in current clinical and orthotics publishing; italicise only if house style mandates Latin terms be distinguished. Contrast with pes planus.
In Context
- "Patients presenting with pes cavus often require accommodative orthoses to redistribute plantar pressures." — Clinical case summary
- "The editorial team queried whether 'pes cavus' should be italicised; house style follows modern clinical convention and uses roman type." — Style sheet note