Editing Metatarsal bones

{{Short description|Five long bones in the foot}}
{{for|the bone in birds|tarsometatarsus}}
{{Redirect|Metatarsus|the segment of an arthropod leg|Arthropod leg#Chelicerata}}
{{Infobox bone
| Name          = Metatarsal bones
| Latin         = metatarsus<br />pl. ossa metatarsi (also: ossa metatarsalia)
| Image         = Metatarsal bones01 - superior view.png
| Caption       = Skeleton of foot. Superior view. Metatarsals shown in green
| Image2        = Gray291 - Metatarsus.png
| Caption2      = Skeleton of left foot. Lateral aspect. Metatarsals shown in purple
| Origins       =
| Insertions    =
| Articulations =
}}
The '''metatarsal bones''' or '''metatarsus''' ({{plural form}}: '''metatarsi''') are a group of five [[long bone]]s in the [[midfoot]], located between the [[tarsus (skeleton)|tarsal bones]] (which form the [[heel]] and the [[ankle]]) and the [[phalanges of the foot|phalanges]] ([[toe]]s). Lacking individual names, the metatarsal bones are numbered from the [[Anatomical terms of location|medial]] side (the side of the [[great toe]]): the [[First metatarsal bone|first]], [[Second metatarsal bone|second]], [[Third metatarsal bone|third]], [[Fourth metatarsal bone|fourth]], and [[Fifth metatarsal bone|fifth metatarsal]] (often depicted with [[Roman numerals]]). The metatarsals are analogous to the [[metacarpus|metacarpal]] bones of the [[hand]]. The lengths of the metatarsal bones in humans are, in descending order, second, third, fourth, fifth, and first.<ref name=Bojsen246>{{cite book |last1=Bojsen-Møller |first1=Finn  |last2=Simonsen |first2=Erik B. |last3=Tranum-Jensen |first3=Jørgen| year=2001 |title=Bevægeapparatets anatomi |edition=12th |language=da |trans-title=Anatomy of the Locomotive Apparatus | isbn =978-87-628-0307-7|page=246 }}</ref> A bovine hind leg has two metatarsals.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://saffronwaldenmuseum.swmuseumsoc.org.uk/identification-cattle-hock-bone/ | title=Identification – cattle hock bone &#124; }}</ref>

== Structure ==
The five metatarsals are [[Dorsum (biology)|dorsal]] convex [[long bones]] consisting of a shaft or body, a base ([[proximal]]ly), and a head ([[distal]]ly).<ref name="Platzer-220">Platzer 2004, p. 220</ref> The body is prismoid in form, tapers gradually from the [[tarsus (skeleton)|tarsal]] to the [[Phalanx bones|phalangeal]] extremity, and is curved longitudinally, so as to be concave below, slightly convex above. The base or [[Posterior (anatomy)|posterior]] extremity is [[Wedge (geometry)|wedge]]-shaped, articulating proximally with the tarsal bones, and by its sides with the contiguous metatarsal bones: its dorsal and plantar surfaces are rough for the attachment of [[ligament]]s. The head or distal extremity presents a convex articular surface, oblong from above downward, and extending farther backward below than above. Its sides are flattened, and on each is a depression, surmounted by a [[Tubercle (anatomy)|tubercle]], for ligamentous attachment. Its [[plantar]] surface is grooved antero-posteriorly for the passage of the flexor [[tendon]]s, and marked on either side by an articular eminence continuous with the terminal articular surface.<ref name="Grays-6d.2.">Gray's 1918, ''6d. 2. The Metatarsus''</ref>

During growth, the [[epiphyseal plate|growth plate]]s are located distally on the metatarsals, except on the first metatarsal where it is located proximally. Yet it is quite common to have an accessory growth plate on the distal first metatarsal.<ref name="MathisFrame1989">{{cite journal|last1=Mathis|first1=SK|last2=Frame|first2=BA|last3=Smith|first3=CE|title=Distal first metatarsal epiphysis. A common pediatric variant|journal=Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association|volume=79|issue=8|year=1989|pages=375–79|issn=8750-7315|doi=10.7547/87507315-79-8-375|pmid=2681682}}</ref>

=== Articulations ===
[[File:Ospied-en.svg|thumb|Bones of the right foot. Dorsal surface. Metatarsus shown in yellow.]]
The base of each metatarsal bone articulates with one or more of the tarsal bones at the [[tarsometatarsal joint]]s, and the head with one of the first row of phalanges at the [[metatarsophalangeal joint]]s.  Their bases also articulate with each other at the [[intermetatarsal articulations|intermetatarsal joints]]

* The [[First metatarsal bone|''first'' metatarsal]] articulates with the [[Medial cuneiform bone|medial cuneiform]], and to a small extent to the [[Intermediate cuneiform bone|intermediate cuneiform]].<ref name="Platzer-218">Platzer 2004, p. 218</ref>
* the [[Second metatarsal bone|''second'']] with all three [[Cuneiform (anatomy)|cuneiforms]].<ref name="Platzer-218" />
* the [[Third metatarsal bone|''third'']] with the [[Lateral cuneiform bone|lateral cuneiform]].<ref name="Platzer-218" />
* the [[Fourth metatarsal bone|''fourth'']] with the lateral cuneiform and the [[Cuboid bone|cuboid]].<ref name="Platzer-218" />
* The [[Fifth metatarsal bone|''fifth'']] with the cuboid.<ref name="Platzer-218" />

=== Muscle attachments ===
{|align=right
|-
| [[File:Gray268 - Mratatarsus.png|thumb|130px|Muscle attachments (seen from above)]] || [[File:Gray269 - Mratatarsus.png|thumb|130px|Muscle attachments (seen from below)]]
|}
{| class="sortable wikitable" 
| '''Muscle''' || '''Direction''' || '''Attachment'''<ref name=Bojsen>{{cite book |last1=Bojsen-Møller |first1=Finn  |last2=Simonsen |first2=Erik B. |last3=Tranum-Jensen |first3=Jørgen| year=2001 |title=Bevægeapparatets anatomi |edition=12th |language=da |trans-title=Anatomy of the Locomotive Apparatus | isbn =978-87-628-0307-7|pages=364–67 }}</ref>
|- 
| [[Tibialis anterior muscle|Tibialis anterior]]   ||  Insertion  ||  Basis of [[First metatarsal bone|first metatarsal]]
 |- 
 | [[Peroneous tertius]]   ||  Insertion  ||  Dorsal side basis of [[Fifth metatarsal bone|fifth metatarsal]]
 |- 
 | [[Peroneous longus]]   ||  Insertion  ||   Tuberosity of [[First metatarsal bone|first metatarsal]]
 |- 
 | [[Peroneous brevis]]   ||  Insertion  ||  Tuberosity of [[Fifth metatarsal bone|fifth metatarsal]]
 |- 
 | Horizontal head of [[Adductor hallucis muscle|adductor hallucis]]   ||  Origin  ||  Deep [[transverse metatarsal ligament]]
 |- 
 | [[Flexor digiti minimi brevis muscle (foot)|Flexor digiti minimi brevis]]   ||  Origin  ||  Basis of [[Fifth metatarsal bone|fifth metatarsal]]
 |- 
 | [[Plantar interossei muscles|Plantar interossei]]   ||  Origin  || Medial side of [[Third metatarsal bone|third]], [[Fourth metatarsal bone|fourth]] and [[Fifth metatarsal bone|fifth metatarsal]]
 |- 
 | [[Dorsal interossei of the foot|Dorsal interossei]]   ||  Origin  || [[First metatarsal bone|First]] to [[Fifth metatarsal bone|fifth metatarsal]]
 |-
 |}

==Clinical significance==

===Injuries===
[[File:FractureBaseof5th.png|thumb|Fracture of the base of the 5th metatarsal]]
The metatarsal bones are often broken by [[association football]] (soccer) players. These and other recent cases have been attributed to the lightweight design of modern [[football boot]]s, which provide less protection to the foot. In 2010 some football players began testing a new sock that incorporated a rubber silicone pad over the foot to provide protection to the top of the foot.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bill|first=Mills|title=Sock boffs may have cured metatarsal woes for Rooney and Co.|url=http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Sock-boffs-may-have-cured-metatarsal-woes-for-Wayne-Rooney-and-Co-article649675.html|access-date=12 December 2010|date=11 December 2010|publisher=www.mirrorfootball.co.uk}}</ref> Stress fractures are thought to account for 16% of injuries related to sports participation, and the metatarsals are the bones most often involved. These fractures are sometimes called [[march fracture]]s, based on their traditional association with military recruits after long marches. The second and third metatarsals are fixed while walking, thus these metatarsals are common sites of injury. The fifth metatarsal may be fractured if the foot is [[supination|oversupinated]] during locomotion.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.emedicine.com/sports/topic81.htm | title = Metatarsal Stress Fracture | last = Perron | first = Andrew D. | date = 2005-11-23 | access-date = 2007-09-13}}</ref>

Protection from injuries can be given by the use of [[Steel-toe boot|safety footwear]] which can use built-in or removable metatarsal guards.

==Additional images==
<gallery>
Image:Footx.jpg|[[X-ray]] of foot.
 Image:Gray290 - Mratatarsus.png|Skeleton of left foot. Medial aspect.
 Image:Gray360.png|Oblique section of left intertarsal and tarsometatarsal articulations, showing the synovial cavities.
 File:Slide2xzxzx.JPG|Ankle and tarsometarsal joints, showing bones of foot. Deep dissection.
 File:Nitti MetatarsalGuard.jpg|alt=Nitti Safety Footwear with removable metatarsal guard.|Safety footwear with removable metatarsal guard.
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Arches of the foot]]
* [[Ball (foot)]]
* [[Bone#Terminology|Bone terminology]]
* [[Terms for anatomical location]]
* [[Jones fracture]]
* [[Lisfranc injury]]
* [[Morton's toe]]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

== References ==
* {{cite book
| last  = Platzer | first = Werner
| title = Color Atlas of Human Anatomy, Vol. 1: Locomotor System
| year  = 2004 | edition = 5th | publisher = Thieme
| isbn  = 3-13-533305-1
}}
* {{cite book
| url       = http://www.bartleby.com/107/64.html
| title     = Anatomy of the Human Body | chapter = 6d. 2. The Metatarsus
| first     = Henry | last = Gray | author-link = Henry Gray
| publisher = Bartleby.com | year = 1918
}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Metatarsus}}
* {{SUNYAnatomyFigs|16|01|05}}

{{Bones of lower extremity}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Metatarsal bones| ]]
[[Category:Bones of the lower limb]]
[[Category:Bones of the foot]]