METATAESAL AND DIGITAL ARTICULATIONS. 



181 



dorsal and plantar ligaments are short transverse bands stretching 

 across the five metatarsal bones from one to another. The interosseous 

 fibres, lying deeply between the bones, occupy the rough parts of their 

 lateral surfaces : they are of considerable strength and firmness. The 

 iutermetatarsal articular cavities are lined with synovial niemhraney 

 which in each is continued forwards from that lining the joints formed 

 between the bases of these bones and the tarsus. The first and second 

 metatarsal bones do not articulate laterally with each other. 



Transverse metatarsal ligament. — The digital extremities or heads 

 of the metatarsal bones arc loosely connected by a transverse band, which 

 is identical in its arrangement with the corresponding structure in 

 the hand, with this exception, that it is attached to the gi'eat toe, 

 whereas in the hand the transverse metatarsal ligament does not reach 

 the thumb. 



Fig. 1G2. — Ligaments op the Foot, seen from 

 BELOW. (A. T.) ^ 



1 and 2, portions of the internal lateral ligament 

 of the ankle-joint ; 3, calcaneo-cuboid or long plantar 

 ligament ; 3', decii or short part of the same ; 4, 

 plantar calcaneo-scaphoid ligament ; 5, three scapho- 

 cuneiform ligaments of the internal, middle and ex- 

 ternal cuneiform bones ; 6, is jilaced upon the external 

 cuneiform bone, towards which is seen coming from 

 behind a cubo-cuueiform ligament ; 7, is jilaced 

 upon the internal cuiieiform bone ; from 6 and 7, are 

 seen passing downwards the plantar cuneo-metatarsal 

 ligaments ; x , part of the first dorsal cuneo-metatarsal 

 ligament ; 8 and 9, ligamentous fibres prolonged from 

 the cuboid bone and sheath of the x^eroneus longus 

 muscle upon the outer metatarsal bones ; 10, 10, be- 

 tween these figures, the posterior intennetatarsal (or 

 transverse) ligaments ; 11, 11, anterior transverse 

 metatarsal ligament, continued across the four meta- 

 tarsal spaces; 12, intersesamoid ligament; 13, 13, 

 between these figures are seen the five pairs of internal 

 and external lateral metatarso-digital ligaments ; 14, 

 14, Ijetween these figures are seen the five pairs of 

 internal and external lateral digital (i>halangeal) liga- 

 ments of the first series ; those of the second series 

 have no figure placed to mark them ; 15, inferior liga- 

 ment of the phalangeal articulation of the great toe. 



Metatarso-digital and Interj^^gitjj. 

 Articulations. — The heads of the meta- 

 tarsal bones are connected with the small 

 concave articular surfitces of the first phalanges by two lateral ligaments, 

 an inferior ligament, to which sesamoid plates are united by scattered 

 fibres, and a synovial membrane, — all which are closely similar to those 

 Avhieh belong to the corresponding parts of the hand. In the first' 

 metatarso-digital articulation the sesamoid plate is divided into two 

 parts, which are fully ossified, forming the sesamoid bones. These are 

 held together by strong transverse ligamentous fibres, and being provided 

 with cartilaginous surftices, move upon the corresponding grooved 

 cartilaginous surfaces of the first metatarsal bone. 



The articulations of the phalanges with one another are also con< 

 structed on the same plan as those of the superior extremity. In each, 

 the bones arc held in contact by two kiteral ligaments and au inferior 



