THE TOOT, 



If a vertical section of the os calcis and of the astragalus be 

 made, the parietes of these cells are found to radiate from the 

 upper articular surfaces like columns, so as to prevent the 

 bones from being crushed by the vertical weight of the body. 



Of the Metatarsus, (Metatarse.) 



The metatarsus succeeds to tho tarsus, and is formed by five 

 long parallel bones. They are called numerically, beginning 

 on the inner side, or that of the great toe. There are four in- 

 tervals between them, which are filled up by the inter osseous 

 'muscles. 



Of the First Metatarsal Bone. 



Placed at the inner side of the foot upon the cuneiforme ifi- 

 ternum, and forming the base of the great toe, it may be readi- 

 ly distinguished in the separated bones by its greater size and 

 shortness. 



The posterior -extremity presents an oblong articular conca- 

 vity, the greatest length of which is vertical, for joining the cu- 

 neiforme internum. The internal semi-circumference of this 

 extremity is convex, while the external is slightly concave or 

 flat; below, it presents a prominent tubercle, into which is in- 

 serted the tendon of the peroneus longus. 



The anterior extremity, also called the head, is rounded and 

 convex, forming an articular surface for the first phalanx of the 

 great toe. This surface is continued far back below, and pre- 

 sents there, for the sesamoid bones, a trochlea with a longitu- 

 dinal ridge in its middle. The lateral surfaces of the head arc 

 rough and concave, for the origin of the lateral ligaments. 



The body is much smaller than the extremities, and is pris- 

 matic. Its internal side is rounded, the external side flattened, 

 and the inferior side concave, longitudinally, for lodging the 

 muscles of the great toe. 



VOL. I. 20 



