How Do You Identify The Metatarsal Bone?
The metatarsal bones are the long bones of the foot. The name “metatarsal” comes from the Greek words “meta,” meaning after, and “tarsos,” meaning ankle. The metatarsal bones are therefore located “after the ankle.” There are five metatarsal bones, one for each toe, and they are numbered beginning with the big toe. Together the five metatarsals make up the metatarsus. Here’s how to identify the metatarsal bones. Learn some of the characteristics common to all metatarsals. They have a prism-like shape that gradually tapers from the tarsal to the phalangeal end. The metatarsal bones are longitudinally curved, concave below and slightly convex above. Observe the wedge-shaped tarsal end of the metatarsals. They articulate proximally with the tarsal bones and laterally with the adjacent metatarsal bones. The attachments of ligaments give the dorsal and plantar surfaces a rough appearance. Look at the phalangeal ends of the metatarsals. They have a convex articular surface which is oblong fr
