Metatarsals

Looks like

Five long bones forming the ball of the foot, the first one short and thick.

What it does

Spread the load across the forefoot and spring you off the ground.

Keeping it well

Build running up slowly and replace shoes; a sudden jump in mileage cracks the second one.

Its parts

• Right first metatarsal bone
• Right second metatarsal bone
• Right third metatarsal bone
• Right fourth metatarsal bone
• Right fifth metatarsal bone
• Left first metatarsal bone
• Left second metatarsal bone
• Left third metatarsal bone
• Left fourth metatarsal bone
• Left fifth metatarsal bone
• First metatarsal bone
• Second metatarsal bone
• Third metatarsal bone
• Fourth metatarsal bone
• Fifth metatarsal bone

Related conditions

• Acromegaly
• Buerger's disease (thromboangiitis obliterans)
• Bunion & foot deformity
• Chronic venous insufficiency
• Clubfoot (talipes equinovarus)
• Flat feet (pes planus)
• Fractures
• Fragility fracture
• Frailty & falls in older age
• Ganglion cyst
• Gout
• Hammer toe and claw toe
• Hyperparathyroidism
• Lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis)
• Lymphoedema
• Morton's neuroma
• Osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease)
• Osteomalacia & rickets
• Osteomyelitis (bone infection)
• Osteoporosis
• Paget's disease of bone
• Restless legs syndrome
• Sarcoma
• Varicose veins
• Venomous snakebite
• Vitamin B1, C and other deficiencies
• Vitamin D deficiency