LIGAMENTS OF METATARSAL BONES. 231 



more or less longitudinal as they extend from the tarsal to the 

 metatarsai bones. The metatarsal bone of the second toe receives 

 three ligaments, one coming from each cuneiform bone. The third 

 bone obtains a ligament from the external cuneiform ; and the 

 fourth and fifth each have a fasciculus from the cuboid. 



Plantar ligaments (fig. 88). There is one longitudinal band from plantar 

 each of the outer two cuneiform to the corresponding metatarsal lgam< 

 bone ; but between the cuboid and its metatarsal bones there are 

 only some scattered fibres. 



The lateral ligaments are longitudinal ; they lie deeply between lateral liga- 

 the bones, and are connected with the second and third metatarsals : ments J 

 they will be better seen by cutting the transverse bands joining the 

 3 of the bones. To the bone of the second toe there are two 

 bands, one on each side ; the inner is strong and is attached to 

 the internal cuneiform ; and the outer is fixed to the external cunei- 

 form bone. The metatarsal bone of the third toe is provided with 

 one lateral slip on its outer side, which is inserted behind into the 

 external cuneiform bone. 



Oblique plantar ligaments. A fasciculus of fibres extends across oblique 

 from the front of the internal cuneiform to the second and third p ai 

 metatarsals ; and from the external cuneiform there is another slip 

 to the metatarsal bone of the little toe. 



Line of the articulation. The line of the articulation between the Line of the 

 n ... ~ , .. articulation 



tarsus and metatarsus is zigzag, in consequence 01 the unequal across the 



lengths of the cuneiform bones. To open the articulation, the knife foot - 

 should be carried obliquely forwards from the tuberosity of the 

 fifth to the outer side of the second metatarsal bone ; then about 

 two lines farther back for the union of the second metatarsal with 

 the middle cuneiform ; and finally, half an inch in front of the last 

 articulation, for the joint of the internal cuneiform with the first 

 metatarsal bone. 



Two synovial cavities are present in these tarso-metatarsal articu- Two syno- 

 , , . vial sacs. 



lations. 



There is one between the cuboid and the two outer metatarsals, 

 which serves also for the adjacent lateral articular surfaces of the 

 latter bones, but this is not always separate from the following one. 



The second is placed in the joint between the external and middle 

 cuneiforms with their metatarsal bones (third and second), and is 

 an offset of the common synovial cavity belonging to the articulation 

 of the navicular with the cuneiform bones (p. 229) : prolongations 

 from it extend between the lateral articular facets of the second, 

 third, and fourth (inner side) metatarsals. 



Articular surfaces. The osseous surfaces are not flat; for the Form of the 

 metatarsal bones are undulating, and the tarsal are uneven to fit 

 into the others. 



Mun'ment. From the wedge-shaped form of the metatarsal bones, Motion froai 

 only a slight movement from above down is obtainable ; and this al 

 is greatest in the little toe and the next. 



In the little toe there r is an abductory and adductorv motion ; with abduc- 



f ,.1. k *. /i f ^ A. tion and 



and a small degree ot the same exists in the fourth toe. adduction. 



