v.] SKELETON OF LOWER LIMB. 187 



The first metatarsal has its proximal, concave, articular 

 surface at right angles with the axis of its shaft. 



The second metatarsal is the longest. 



The fifth metatarsal has its base greatly enlarged, with a 

 considerable prominence, or " tuberosity," projecting from 

 the outer side of its hinder end. 



8. The PHALANGES are three in number in each digit, 

 except the first, or great toe (hallux), which has but two. 

 These two, however, are much larger than those of the other 

 toes. 



Often the second and third phalanges of the fifth digit (or 

 little toe) become anchylosed together. 



The second phalanges are much shorter than the first, and 

 the third phalanges are slightly shorter than the second. 



Each last phalanx has its end modified to support a nail, 

 much as we saw in the last phalanges of the hand. 



The toes being so much shorter than the fingers, the 

 phalanges are of course also much shorter. 



9. Comparing now the relations presented by OTHER 

 ANIMALS, we find that man follows a rule which is universal 

 in having the leg-bones attached to and suspended from a 

 pelvis (well developed or rudimentary), which may be looked 

 upon as the root-portion of the limb. This root part may, 

 however, be present while the distal part (leg and foot) is 

 more or less atrophied, but the distal parts are never present 

 without a rudiment of the limb-root. 



The bones of the inferior extremity of man are of full 



FIG. 158. RUDIMENTARY PELVIC FIG. 159. SKELETON OF RUDI- 



EXTREMITY OF OphiodeS. MENTARY PELVIC LlMB OF LiclitS. 



(After Fiirbringer.} (After F'urbringer. ) 



f, fibula ; t t tibia. f, femur ; z7, ilium ; pi, pubo-ischium ; 



t, tibia. 



average development, for though in a few animals these bones 

 may be a little more numerous, in a far greater number of in- 

 stances the difference from man consists in more or less defect 



