The intermetatarsal joints are the articulations between the base of metatarsal bones.
The base of the first
metatarsal
The metatarsal bones or metatarsus (: metatarsi) are a group of five long bones in the midfoot, located between the tarsal bones (which form the heel and the ankle) and the phalanges ( toes). Lacking individual names, the metatarsal bones are ...
is not connected with that of the second by any
ligaments
A ligament is a type of fibrous connective tissue in the body that connects bones to other bones. It also connects flight feathers to bones, in dinosaurs and birds. All 30,000 species of amniotes (land animals with internal bones) have ligam ...
; in this respect the
great toe
Toes are the digits of the foot of a tetrapod. Animal species such as cats that walk on their toes are described as being ''digitigrade''. Humans, and other animals that walk on the soles of their feet, are described as being ''plantigrade''; ...
resembles the
thumb
The thumb is the first digit of the hand, next to the index finger. When a person is standing in the medical anatomical position (where the palm is facing to the front), the thumb is the outermost digit. The Medical Latin English noun for thumb ...
.
The bases of the other four metatarsals are connected by the dorsal, plantar, and interosseous ligaments.
* The ''
dorsal ligaments'' pass transversely between the dorsal surfaces of the bases of the adjacent metatarsal bones.
* The ''
plantar ligaments'' have a similar arrangement to the dorsal.
* The ''
interosseous ligaments'' consist of strong transverse fibers which connect the rough non-articular portions of the adjacent surfaces.
Synovial membranes
The synovial membranes between the second and third, and the third and fourth metatarsal bones are part of the great tarsal synovial membrane; that between the fourth and fifth is a prolongation of the synovial membrane of the
cuboideometatarsal joint.
Movements
The movement permitted between the tarsal ends of the metatarsal bones is limited to a slight gliding of the articular surfaces upon one another.
See also
*
Transverse metatarsal ligament
The transverse metatarsal ligament is a narrow band which runs across and connects together the heads of all the metatarsal bones. It is blended anteriorly with the plantar (glenoid) ligaments of the metatarsophalangeal articulations.
Its plantar ...
References
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Joints