THE BONES OF THE LOWER LIMB 



271 



from the third digital, and the fourth and fifth from the second 

 digital artery. 

 Structure. — ^The structure is that of a long bone. 



Varieties. — (1) The tuberosity on the outer side of the base of the fifth 

 metatarsal, or the tuberosity on the plantar surface of the base of the first, 

 may form a separate ossicle. (2) An additional ossicle is sometimes met -with 

 between the bases of the first and second metatarsals. 



The metatarsus as a whole is convex on its dorsal aspect from 

 side to side, and also longitudinally. The transverse convexity is 

 due to the broad ends of the bases of the second, third, and fourth 

 metatarsals being directed upwards. On its plantar aspect it is 

 concave from side to side, and also longitudinally. All five bones are 

 nearly parallel with each other, being slightly divergent in front. 

 The interosseous spaces are as in the hand, the first being the 

 innermost. 



The Phalanges. 



The phalanges are fourteen in number — 

 three to each of the four outer toes, and two 

 to the great toe. The toes, from within out- 

 wards, are called great toe or hallux, second, 

 third, fourth, and fifth or httle toe. In their 

 general characters the phalanges so closely 

 resemble those of the hand that a detailed 

 description is unnecessary. The phalanges of 

 the great toe, called proximal and distal, are 

 characterized by their large size and great 

 length, which, with the length of the first 

 metatarsal bone, places, the great toe on a 

 level with those next it. The first phalcinx of 

 the four outer toes is characterized by being 

 slender, and much compressed from side to 

 side over its shaft, the proximal end being of 

 large size, and almost triangular. The second 

 phalanx is short, and compressed from above 

 downwards. The ungual phalanx is very small. 



Fig. 163. 

 The Phal.\xges of 

 THE Second Toe 

 (Plaxt.\r View). 



Special Moseular Attachments. — The base of the 

 proximal phalanx of the great toe, which presents a 

 tubercular enlargement at either side, gives insertion 

 internally to the abductor hallucis and inner head of the flexor brevis hallucis ; 

 externally, to the outer head of the flexor brevis hallucis, adductor obUquus 

 hallucis, and adductor transversus hallucis ; and on its dorsal surface there is a 

 rough transverse ridge for the innermost tendon of the extensor brevis digi- 

 torum. The base of the ungual phalanx of the great toe gives insertion, on its 

 dorsal surface, to the extensor proprius hcdlucis, and, on its plantar surface, to 

 the flexor longus hallucis. The base of the first phalanx of the second toe 

 gives pcirtial insertion internally to the first dorsal interof?seous, and externally 

 to the second dorsal interosseous. The base of the first phalanx of the third 

 toe gives partial insertion internally to the first plantar interosseous, and 

 eactemally to the third dorsal interosseous. The base of the first phalanx of 



