The intermetatarsal joints are the articulations between the base of metatarsal bones.
The base of the first
metatarsal
The metatarsal bones, or metatarsus, are a group of five long bones in the foot, located between the tarsal bones of the hind- and mid-foot and the phalanges of the toes. Lacking individual names, the metatarsal bones are numbered from the med ...
is not connected with that of the second by any
ligaments
A ligament is the fibrous connective tissue that connects bones to other bones. It is also known as ''articular ligament'', ''articular larua'', ''fibrous ligament'', or ''true ligament''. Other ligaments in the body include the:
* Peritoneal li ...
; in this respect the
great toe
Toes are the digits (fingers) of the foot of a tetrapod. Animal species such as cats that walk on their toes are described as being '' digitigrade''. Humans, and other animals that walk on the soles of their feet, are described as being '' pl ...
resembles the
thumb
The thumb is the first digit of the hand, next to the index finger. When a person is standing in the medical anatomical position (where the palm is facing to the front), the thumb is the outermost digit. The Medical Latin English noun for thumb ...
.
The bases of the other four metatarsals are connected by the dorsal, plantar, and interosseous ligaments.
* The ''
dorsal ligaments'' pass transversely between the dorsal surfaces of the bases of the adjacent metatarsal bones.
* The ''
plantar ligaments'' have a similar arrangement to the dorsal.
* The ''
interosseous ligaments'' consist of strong transverse fibers which connect the rough non-articular portions of the adjacent surfaces.
Synovial membranes
The synovial membranes between the second and third, and the third and fourth metatarsal bones are part of the great tarsal synovial membrane; that between the fourth and fifth is a prolongation of the synovial membrane of the
cuboideometatarsal
The tarsometatarsal joints (Lisfranc joints) are arthrodial joints in the foot. The tarsometatarsal joints involve the first, second and third cuneiform bones, the cuboid bone and the metatarsal bones.
The eponym of Lisfranc joint is 18th-19th cent ...
joint.
Movements
The movement permitted between the tarsal ends of the metatarsal bones is limited to a slight gliding of the articular surfaces upon one another.
See also
*
Transverse metatarsal ligament
The transverse metatarsal ligament is a narrow band which runs across and connects together the heads of all the metatarsal bones. It is blended anteriorly with the plantar (glenoid) ligaments of the metatarsophalangeal articulations.
Its plantar ...
References
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Joints