Metatarsal bones
bones in the foot
The metatarsus or metatarsal bones are a group of five long bones in the foot. They are between the tarsal bones of the hind and mid-foot and the phalanges of the toes.
| Metatarsal bones | |
|---|---|
 Skeleton of foot. Superior view. Metatarsals shown in green. | |
 Skeleton of left foot. Lateral aspect. Metatarsals shown in purple. | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | Metatarsus pl. ossa metatarsi (also: ossa metatarsalia) |
| MeSH | D008682 |
| TA | A02.5.17.001 |
| FMA | 71340 |
| Anatomical terms of bone | |
The metatarsal bones are numbered from the side of the large toe: the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth metatarsal. They can be numbered with Roman numerals. The metatarsals are like the metacarpal bones of the hand.[1]
The metatarsal bones are often broken by soccer players. This may be caused by the lightweight design of modern football boots, which give less protection to the foot. In 2010 some soccer players began testing a new sock that had a rubber silicon pad over the foot to protect the top of the foot.[2]
References
change- ↑ Bojsen-Møller, Finn; Simonsen, Erik B.; Tranum-Jensen, Jørgen (2001). Bevægeapparatets anatomi [Anatomy of the Locomotive Apparatus] (in Danish) (12th ed.). p. 246. ISBN 978-87-628-0307-7.
- ↑ Bill, Mills (11 December 2010). "Sock boffs may have cured metatarsal woes for Rooney and Co". www.mirrorfootball.co.uk. Retrieved 12 December 2010.