Fourth metatarsal bone
The fourth metatarsal bone is a long bone in the foot. It is smaller in size than the third metatarsal bone and is the third longest (and smallest) of the five metatarsal bones. The fourth metatarsal is analogous to the fourth metacarpal bone in the hand[1]
| Fourth metatarsal bone | |
|---|---|
 The fourth metatarsal. (Left.) | |
 Bones of the right foot. Dorsal surface. Fourth metatarsal bone is the yellow bone second from the right | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | Os metatarsale IV |
| Anatomical terms of bone | |
As the four other metatarsals bones it can be divided into three parts; base, body and head. The base is the part closest to the ankle and the head is closest to the toes. The narrowed part in the middle is referred to as the body or shaft of the bone. The bone is somewhat flatten giving it two surfaces; the plantar (towards the sole of the foot) and the dorsal side (the area facing upwards while standing).[1] These surfaces are rough for the attachment of ligaments. The bone is curved longitudinally, so as to be concave below, slightly convex above.
The base or posterior extremity is wedge-shaped.[1] The base presents an oblique quadrilateral surface for articulation with the cuboid; a smooth facet on the medial side, divided by a ridge into an anterior portion for articulation with the third metatarsal, and a posterior portion for articulation with the third cuneiform; on the lateral side a single facet, for articulation with the fifth metatarsal.
The head or anterior extremity articulates with the fourth proximal phalanx, the first bone in the fourth toe.
Muscle attachments
 Muscle attachments (seen from above) |  Muscle attachments (seen from belowe) |
The third and fourth dorsal interossei muscles attaches to the fourth metatarsal bone. The third dorsal interossei from the medial side of the bone and the fourth dorsal interossei from the lateral side. The function of the muscle is to spread the toes.[2]
The second Plantar interossei muscle originates from the medial side of the base and shaft of the fourth metatarsal. The function of the muscle is to move the fourth toe medially and move the toes together.[2]
The horizontal head of the adductor hallucis also originates from the lateral side of the metacarpophalangeal joint and from the deep transverse metatarsal ligament,[2] a narrow band which runs across and connects together the heads of all the metatarsal bones.
| Muscle | Direction | Attachment[3] |
|---|---|---|
| Dorsal interossei III | Origin | Medial side of the shaft |
| Dorsal interossei IV | Origin | Lateral side of the shaft |
| Plantar interossei II | Origin | Medial side of the base and shaft |
| Horizontal head of adductor hallucis | Origin | Deep transverse metatarsal ligament and the metacarpophalangeal joint |
Additional images
X-ray of foot, showing phalangeal fracture
Skeleton of foot. Medial aspect.
Oblique section of left intertarsal and tarsometatarsal articulations, showing the synovial cavities.
Foot bones - tarsus, metatarsus
Foot bones - metatarsus and phalanges
Metatarsus
References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 274 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
- 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.
- Bojsen-Møller, Finn; Simonsen, Erik B.; Tranum-Jensen, Jørgen (2001). Bevægeapparatets anatomi [Anatomy of the Locomotive Apparatus] (in Danish) (12th ed.). pp. 300–301. ISBN 978-87-628-0307-7.
- Bojsen-Møller, Finn; Simonsen, Erik B.; Tranum-Jensen, Jørgen (2001). Bevægeapparatets anatomi [Anatomy of the Locomotive Apparatus] (in Danish) (12th ed.). pp. 364–367. ISBN 978-87-628-0307-7.
