Metatarsophalangeal joints
Metatarsophalangeal joints (MTP joints) are the joints between the metatarsal bones of the foot and the proximal phalanges of the toes. They are condyloid joints, meaning they allow movement in two planes.
Etymology[edit | edit source]
The term "metatarsophalangeal" is derived from the words "metatarsus" and "phalanx". "Metatarsus" is derived from the Greek "meta", meaning "after", and "tarsos", meaning "flat of the foot". "Phalanx" is derived from the Greek "phalanx", meaning "line of soldiers", as the bones are arranged in a line.
Anatomy[edit | edit source]
The metatarsophalangeal joints consist of the five long metatarsal bones of the foot and the proximal phalanges of the toes. Each joint is surrounded by a joint capsule and is reinforced by collateral ligaments. The joint surfaces are covered with hyaline cartilage.
Function[edit | edit source]
The metatarsophalangeal joints are important for walking and running. They allow the toes to flex and extend, and also allow some side-to-side movement. The joints also play a role in maintaining balance.
Related terms[edit | edit source]
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
Metatarsophalangeal joints Resources | |
---|---|
|
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD