Quick Facts
Location: Foot.
Bone Type: Long bone.
Key Features: Head, body, base, and proximal and distal articular facets.
Articulates With: Proximal phalanx of third toe, distal phalanx of third toe.
Arterial Supply: Dorsal digital arteries of foot; proper plantar digital arteries.
Key Features & Anatomical Relations
The middle (intermediate) phalanx of third toe is one of the fourteen phalangeal bones of the foot. It is classified as a long bone and includes the following bony features:
- parts: head, body, and base;
- landmarks: proximal and distal articular facets.
More information regarding these bony features can be found in the Parts and Landmarks tabs for this bone.
The middle phalanx is located:
- distal to the proximal phalanx;
- proximal to the distal phalanx.
It articulates with the:
- proximal phalanx at the proximal interphalangeal joint;
- distal phalanx at the distal interphalangeal joint.
Ossification
Ossification of the middle phalanx occurs at two ossification centers, these are found in the:
- body, which appears in utero during the third to eighth months;
- base, which appears within the second to eighth years.
These ossification centers fuse with each other by the 18th year (Standring, 2016).
Surface Anatomy
The head, body, and base of the middle phalanx can all be easily palpated.
List of Clinical Correlates
- Fracture - Brachyphalangia - Symphalangia
References
Standring, S. (2016) Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. Gray's Anatomy Series 41st edn.: Elsevier Limited.
Learn more about this topic from other Elsevier products
Toe
Turf toe is a traumatic injury of the first metatarsophalangeal joint that results in a ligamentous or capsular sprain of the joint.
