266 



A MANUAL OF ANATOMY 



border, surmounted at either side by a prominent cornu . On either 

 side the head presents a dorsal tubercle and plantar depression 

 for the lateral metatarso- phalangeal ligament. The head of the 

 first metatarsal is of large size, and elongated transversely. On 

 its plantar aspect it presents two well-marked grooves, separated 

 by a median antero-posterior ridge, forr the sesamoid bones in the 

 heads of insertion of the flexor brevis hallucis. 



The bases of the metatarsal bones articulate with the tarsus and 

 with each other, except, as a rule, in the case of the first, and they 

 present distinctive characters in each case. 



First Metatarsal Bone. — This supports the great toe, and is the 

 thickest and most massive of the series. The base is of large size, 

 and presents a concave reniform surface, with the concavity out- 

 Head 



-^Grooves for Sesamoid Bones 



External Surface 



For 2nd Metatarsal 

 (inconstant) 



, Plantar Surface 

 Medullary Foramen 



For Tibialis Amicus 

 For Peroneus Longus 



Tuberosity 



Fig. 157. — The First Right Metatarsal Bone (Plantar View). 



wards, for the internal cuneiform. Inferiorly it presents a pro- 

 jection, called the tuberosity, which gives insertion, by its outer 

 aspect, to the principal part of the tendon of the peroneus longus, 

 and by its inner aspect to a slip of the tendon of the tibialis anticus. 

 There is usually no facet on its outer surface, but sometimes it 

 presents one for the second metatarsal, and it always gives origin 

 to the inner head of the first dorsal interosseous. 



Articulations. — Posteriorly with the internal cuneiform, and some- 

 times externally with the second metatarsal ; anteriorly with the 

 first phalanx of the great toe ; and inferiorly with the two sesamoid 

 bones. 



Second Metatarsal Bone. — ^This supports the second toe. Its 

 base is wedge-shaped, with the broad end upwards. It recedes 

 between the internal and external cuneiform bones, and posteriorly 



