116 BONES OF THE LOWEE LIMB. 



bones, and present anteriorly and posteriorly smooth surfaces for articula- 

 tion with those bones. The first or internal cuneiform bone is the largest ; 

 it is narrow above, and thick and rough towards the sole ; its dorsal 

 surface looks inwards and upwards, and is marked by an oblique 

 descending groove, in which the tendon of the tibialis anticus lies ; 

 its external surface, concave and rough interiorly, is smooth and arti- 

 cular above. The second and third, or middle and external, cuneiform 

 bones present each a quadrangular surface superiorly, and a narrower 

 rough edge below, contributing thus to form the transverse arch of the 

 foot. The proximal ends of the three bones are in the same transverse 

 line ; but as the middle bone is shortest, the internal and external 

 project forwards, so as to articulate laterally not only with the sides of 

 that bone, but also with the base of the second metatarsal bone, which 

 is inserted between them. The outer side of the third cuneiform 

 articulates by a smooth flat surface with the cuboid, and by a small 

 narrow facet (sometimes absent) with the fourth metatarsal bone. 



The cuboid bone is situated at the outer side of the foot, between the 

 calcaneum and the fourth and fifth metatarsal bones. It deviates from 

 the cuboid form and becomes rather pyramidal, by the sloping of four of 

 its surfaces towards the smaller external border. The posterior carti- 

 laginous surface articulates with theos calcis : the anterior surface, also 

 covered with cartilage, is divided into nn internal quadrilateral and an 

 external triangular facet, articulating with the fourth and fifth metatarsal 

 bones. On the internal aspect, in the middle, and touching its superior 

 border, is a smooth surface, which articulates with the external cunei- 

 form bone, and behind this, in some instances, a smaller surface arti- 

 culating with the scaphoid, while the remainder is rough for ligaments. 

 The external border presents a smooth vertical groove, in which the 

 tendon of the peroueus longus lies ; and the inferior surface is traversed 

 obliquely near its anterior margin by a continuation of the same groove ; 

 behind this there is a thick ridgo, which, with the rest of the inferior 

 surface, gives attachment to the calcaneo-cuboid ligaments. The supe- 

 rior surface, looking outwards and upwards, is on the whole even, but 

 rather rough. 



a?HE METATABSUS. 



The five metatarsal bones are distinguished by numbers, according 

 to their position from within outwards. 



They resemble the metacarpal bones of the hand in being shafted 

 bones, slightly convex from behind forwards on the dorsal aspect, and 

 having irregularly shaped proximal extremities, three-sided shafts, and 

 rounded heads which articulate with the phalanges. The first meta- 

 tarsal bone is much thicker and more massive, though shorter than 

 any of the rest. The others diminish in length from the second to the 

 fifth. 



The 2))-ox/'inal cxfrrmUt'es resemble those of the metacarpal bones 

 exactly as regards the number of bones with which each articulates. 

 The first articulates Avith one bone, the internal cuneiform ; the second 

 with four bones, viz., the three cuneiform and the third metatarsal; the 

 third with three bones, viz., the external cuneiform and the adjacent 

 metatarsals ; the fourth with four bones, viz., the cuboid, external cunei- 

 form, and the adjacent metatarsals ; the fifth with two bones, viz., the 

 cuboid and the fourth metatarsal. The fourth, however, is sometimes con- 



