650 DISSECTION OF THE LEG. 



The bones in contact are tipped with cartilage, and have longitudinal dor- 

 sal, plantar, and lateral ligaments, with some oblique in the sole. 



The dorsal ligaments (fig. 226) are thin bands of fibres, which are more 

 or less longitudinal as they extend from the tarsal to the metatarsal bones. 

 Each metatarsal bone receives one ligament, except that of the second 

 toe, to which there are three; the three bands to the second coming from 

 all the cuneiform bones, one from each. The third bone obtains a liga- 

 ment from the external cuneiform ; and the fourth and fifth have a fascicu- 

 lus to each from the os cuboides. 



Plantar ligaments (fig. 224). There is one longitudinal band from each 

 of the two outer cuneiform to the corresponding metatarsal bone ; but be- 

 tween the cuboid and its metatarsal bones there are only some scattered 

 fibres. 



The lateral ligaments are longitudinal ; they lie deeply between the 

 bones, and are connected with the second and third metatarsals : they will 

 be better seen by cutting the transverse bands joining the bases 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 into the middle or the outer cuneiform bone. The me- 

 tatarsal bone of the third toe is provided with one lateral slip on its outer 

 side, which is inserted above into the external cuneiform bone. 



Oblique plantar ligaments. A fasiculus of fibres extends across from 

 the front of the internal cuneiform to the second and third 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 tarsus 

 and metatarsus is zigzag, in consequence of the unequal lengths of the 

 cuneiform bones. To open the articulation, the knife should be carried 

 obliquely forwards from the tuberosity of the fifth to the base of the sec- 

 ond 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 cunei- 

 form with the first metatarsal bone. 



Two synovial membranes are present in these tarso-metatarsal articula- 

 tions. 



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

 serves for the adjacent lateral articular surfaces of the bones ; this is not 

 always separate from the following. 



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 membrane belonging to the articulation of the 

 scaphoid with the cuneiform bones (p. 648) : prolongations from it are 

 furnished to the lateral articular surfaces of the second, third, and fourth 

 (inner side) metatarsals. 



Articular surfaces. The osseous surfaces are not flat; for the metatar- 

 sal bones are undulating, and the tarsal are uneven to fit into the others. 



Movement. From the wedge-shaped form of the metatarsal bones a 

 slight movement from above down is obtainable ; and this is greatest in 

 the little toe and the next. 



In the little toe there is an abductory and adductory motion ; and a 

 small degree of the same exists in the fourth toe. 



Dissection. All the superficial ligaments having been taken away, the 

 interosseous ligaments of the tarsus and metatarsus may be seen by sepa- 



