' THE METATARSAL BOXES. 307 



or />ead, presents a terminal rounded articular surface, oblong from above 

 downward and extending farther backward below than above. Its sides are 

 flattened, and present a depression, surmounted by a tubercle, for ligamentous 

 attachment. Its under surface is grooved in the middle line for the passage of 

 the Flexor tendon, and marked on each side by an articular eminence continuous 

 with the terminal articular surface. 



Peculiar Characters. The First is remarkable for its great thickness, but is the 

 shortest of all the inetatarsal bones. The shaft is strong and of well-marked pris- 

 moid form. The posterior extremity presents at times a lateral articular facet for 

 the second metatarsal : its terminal articular surface is of large size, kidney-shaped; 

 its circumference is grooved, for the tarso-metatarsal ligaments, and internally gives 

 attachment to part of the tendon of the Tibialis anticus : its inferior angle presents 

 a rough oval prominence for the insertion of the tendon of the Peroneus longus. 

 The head is of large size: on its plantar surface are two grooved facets, over which 

 glide sesamoid bones ; the facets are separated by a smooth elevated ridge. 



This bone is known by the single kidney-shaped articular surface on its base, 

 the deeply grooved appearance of the plantar surface of its head, and its great 

 thickness relatively to its length. AVhen it is placed in its natural position, the 

 concave border of the kidney-shaped articular surface on its base points to the side 

 to which the bone belongs. 



The Second is the longest and largest of the remaining metatarsal bones, being 

 prolonged backward into the recess formed between the three cuneiform bones. 

 Its tar sal extremity is broad above, narrow and rough below. It presents four 

 articular surfaces : one behind, of a triangular form, for articulation with the 

 middle cuneiform ; one at the upper part of its internal lateral surface, for articu- 

 lation with the internal cuneiform : and two on its external lateral surface, a 

 posterior and anterior, separated by a vertical ridge. Each of these external 

 articular surfaces is divided by a rough depression into two parts ; the two 

 anterior facets articulate with the third metatarsal ; the two posterior (sometimes 

 continuous) with the external cuneiform. Occasionally, in front of and below 

 the facet for the internal cuneiform, is found an indistinct facet for the first 

 metatarsal. 



The facets on the tarsal extremity of the second metatarsal bone serve at once 

 to distinguish it from the rest, and to indicate the foot to which it belongs. The 

 fact that the two posterior subdivisions of the external facets sometimes run into 

 one should not be forgotten. 



The Third articulates behind, by means of a triangular smooth surface, with 

 the external cuneiform ; on its inner side, by two facets, with the second meta- 

 tarsal : and on its outer side, by a single facet, with the fourth metatarsal. The 

 latter facet is of circular form and situated at the upper angle of the base. 



The third metatarsal is known by its having at its tarsal end two undivided 

 facers on the inner side, and a single facet on the outer. This distinguishes it from 

 the second metatarsal. in which the two facets, found on one side of its tarsal end, 

 are each subdivided into two. The single facet (when the bone is put in its natural 

 position) is on the side to which the bone belongs. 



The Fourth is smaller in size than the preceding ; its tarsal extremity presents 

 a terminal quadrilateral surface, for articulation with the cuboid ; a smooth facet on 

 the inner side, divided by a ridge into an anterior portion for articulation with the 

 third metatarsal, and a posterior portion for articulation with the external cunei- 

 form ; on the outer side a single facet, for articulation with the fifth metatarsal. 



The fourth metatarsal is known by its having a single facet on either side of 

 the tarsal extremity, that on the inner side being divided into two parts. If this 

 subdivision be not recognizable, the fact that its tarsal end is bent somewhat 

 outward will indicate the side to which it belongs. 



The Fifth is recognized by the tubercular eminence on the outer side of its 

 base. It articulates behind, by a triangular surface cut obliquely from without 

 inward, with the cuboid, and internallv with the fourth metatarsal. 



