Quick Facts
Location: Foot.
Bone Type: Long bone.
Key Features: Head, body, base, and proximal and distal articular facets.
Articulates With: Fifth metatarsal bone, middle phalanx of little toe.
Arterial Supply: Dorsal digital arteries of foot.
Related parts of the anatomy
Key Features & Anatomical Relations
The proximal phalanx of little (fifth) toe is one of the fourteen phalangeal bones of the foot. It’s 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 proximal phalanx is located:
- distal to the fifth metatarsal bone;
- proximal to the middle phalanx.
It articulates with the:
- middle phalanx at the proximal interphalangeal joint;
- metatarsal bone at the metatarsophalangeal joint.
Ossification
Ossification of the proximal phalanx occurs at two ossification centers, these are found in the:
- body, which appears in utero during the third to fourth 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 proximal phalanx can 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
Proximal Phalanx
The proximal phalanx is a tubular bone that consists of a base, a diaphysis, and a head.
