Metatarsals

Original Editor - Shejza Mino

Top Contributors - Shejza Mino, Lucinda hampton, Kim Jackson, Wendy Snyders and Vidya Acharya  

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Introduction

The metatarsals refer to five long bones that are located in each foot. They are numbered I to V, from medial to lateral.

Together, the metatarsal and tarsal bones help to form the arches of the foot, which are essential for weight-bearing as well as walking.

Gross Anatomy & Structure

The metatarsal bones start at the tarsus and end at the phalanges, forming two joints: the tarsometatarsal joint & metatarsolphalangeal joint.

Each of the metatarsal bones consists of the following:

• proximal base
• shaft (aka body)
• neck
• distal head

Articulations

Each base of the metatarsal bone articulates with at least one of the tarsal bones, forming the tarsometatarsal joints. The head of the metatarsals articulate with the phalanges, making up the metatarsalphalangeal joints. Additionally, the base of the metatarsals also articulates with the base of the adjacent metatarsal, forming the intermetatarsal joints.

Bone (metatarsal)	Proximal articulation	Distal articulation
Metatarsal I	medial cuneiform	1st proximal phalanx
Metatarsal II	medial, intermediate & lateral cuneiforms	2nd proximal phalanx
Metatarsal III	lateral cuneiform	3rd proximal phalanx
Metatarsal IV	cuboid	4th proximal phalanx
Metatarsal V	cuboid	5th proximal phalanx

Attachments

Metatarsal	Muscle attachment
Metatarsal I	- Base: tibialis anterior, fibularis longus - Tuberosity: fibularis longus - Lateral shaft: 1st dorsal interosseous
Metatarsal II	- Medial shaft: 1st dorsal interosseous - Lateral shaft: 2nd doral interosseous
Metatarsal III	- Medial shaft: 2nd dorsal interosseus & 1st plantar interosseus - Lateral shaft: 3rd dorsal interosseous
Metatarsal IV	- Medial shaft: 3rd dorsal interosseus & 2nd plantar interosseus - Lateral shaft: 4th dorsal interosseus
Metatarsal V	- Medial shaft: 4th dorsal interosseus & 3rd plantar interosseus - Dorsal base: fibularis tertius - Tuberosity: fibularis brevis - Plantar base: flexor digiti minimi brevis

Arches of the Foot

The metatarsals contribute significantly to the three arches of the foot. The bones that contribute to each arch are as follows:

• Medial longitudinal arch: talus, calcaneus, navicular, all three cuneiforms and metatarsals 1-3.
• Lateral longitudinal arch: calcaneus, cuboid and metatarsals 4 & 5.
• Transverse arch: bases of all five metatarsals, cuboid and cuneiforms 1-3.

Resources

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