THE FOOT. 233 



bedded in the tendons of the small muscles which move the first 

 phalanx. They are the sesamoids, and present, superiorly, an 

 articular surface, covered with cartilage, which enters into the 

 composition of the joint; and below, a rounded surface, which 

 has nothing remarkable. 



The sesamoid bones, though generally appropriated solely to 

 this joint, are yet frequently found elsewhere. For example, in the 

 second joint of the same toe in the first joint of the other toes 

 in the articulation of the first phalanx of the thumb, with its 

 metacarpal bone in the first joint of the fingers in the knee 

 joint, behind each condyle and, in advanced life, in tendons 

 where they slide upon bones. Ancient luxations give a dispo- 

 sition to their development in the capsular ligaments of the gin- 

 glymous joints, of which a very interesting specimen may be 

 seen in the Anatomical Museum, occasioned by an external la- 

 teral dislocation of the elbow. 



Of the Smaller Toes. 



Their phalanges bear a general resemblance with those of the 

 fingers, but are neither so large nor so long. 



The first phalanges are successively diminished to that of the 

 little toe, and are almost precisely like each other. Their pos- 

 terior extremities, or bases, form a cavity deeper in proportion 

 than in the fingers, for receiving the ends of the metatarsal 

 bones. The anterior extremities are fashioned into two small 

 condyles forforming a hinge-like joint with the second phalanges. 

 The bodies are smaller than the extremities, more rounded and 

 narrower than in the fingers. 



The second phalanges are very short, the extremities being 

 so near each other that the body is of inconsiderable length, par- 

 ticularly as regards the last two, where it forms a mere line of 

 separation. The posterior end has two superficial cavities for 

 receiving the first phalanx; the anterior end is imperfectly fa- 

 shioned into two little condyles for joining the third phalanx. 



The third phalanges have a well-formed articular surface for 



20* 



