| Metatarsal bones | |
|---|---|
 Skeleton of foot. Superior view. Metatarsals shown in green | |
 Skeleton of left foot. Lateral aspect. Metatarsals shown in purple | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | metatarsus pl. ossa metatarsi (also: ossa metatarsalia) |
| MeSH | D008682 |
| TA98 | A02.5.17.001 |
| TA2 | 1495 |
| FMA | 71340 |
| Anatomical terms of bone | |
The metatarsal bones or metatarsus (pl.: metatarsi) are a group of five long bones in the midfoot, located between the tarsal bones (which form the heel and the ankle) and the phalanges (toes). Lacking individual names, the metatarsal bones are numbered from the medial side (the side of the great toe): the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth metatarsal (often depicted with Roman numerals). The metatarsals are analogous to the metacarpal bones of the hand. The lengths of the metatarsal bones in humans are, in descending order, second, third, fourth, fifth, and first.[1] A bovine hind leg has two metatarsals.[2]
- ^ Bojsen-Møller, Finn; Simonsen, Erik B.; Tranum-Jensen, Jørgen (2001). Bevægeapparatets anatomi [Anatomy of the Locomotive Apparatus] (in Danish) (12th ed.). p. 246. ISBN 978-87-628-0307-7.
- ^ "Identification – cattle hock bone |".