Second Metatarsal Bone

Key Features & Anatomical Relations

The second metatarsal bone is the longest of the five metatarsal bones of the foot. It is classified as a long bone and includes the following bony features:

- parts: head, body, and base;

- surfaces: medial and lateral surfaces;

- landmarks: proximal and distal articular facets, medial and lateral cuneiform articular facets, and third metatarsal articular facet.

More information regarding these bony features can be found in the Parts, Surfaces and Landmarks tabs for this bone.

The second metatarsal bone is located:

- proximal to the proximal phalanx of second toe;

- distal to the intermediate cuneiform bone;

- medial to the third metatarsal and lateral cuneiform bones;

- lateral to the first metatarsal and medial cuneiform bones.

It articulates with the:

- proximal phalanx of second toe at the second metatarsophalangeal joint;

- medial, intermediate and lateral cuneiform bones, contributing to the formation of the tarsometatarsal joints;

- third metatarsal bone, contributing to the formation of the intermetatarsal joints.

Ossification

Ossification of the second metatarsal bone occurs at two ossification centers, these are found in the:

- body, which appears in utero at third month;

- head, which appears during the third to fourth years.

These ossification centers fuse with each other during the seventeenth and twentieth years (Standring, 2016).

Variations

In some individuals, an accessory bone, known as the os intermetatarseum, may be associated with the second metatarsal bone (Standring, 2016).

Surface Anatomy

The following bony features of the second metatarsal bone are relevant to surface anatomy:

- its dorsal aspect can be palpated;

- the head is palpable during plantarflexion of the toes.

List of Clinical Correlates

- Fracture

- Lisfranc injury

- Brachymetatarsia

- Neuropathic (diabetic) foot ulcer of the metatarsal head

- Morton’s syndrome

References

Standring, S. (2016) Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. Gray's Anatomy Series 41st edn.: Elsevier Limited.