Fifth metatarsal bone

Bone: Fifth metatarsal bone
The fifth metatarsal. (Left.)
Bones of the right foot. Dorsal surface.
Latin	os metatarsale V
Gray's	subject #64 274

The fifth metatarsal bone is recognized by a rough eminence, the tuberosity, on the lateral side of its base.

The base articulates behind, by a triangular surface cut obliquely in a transverse direction, with the cuboid; and medially, with the fourth metatarsal.

On the medial part of its dorsal surface is inserted the tendon of the Peronæus tertius and on the dorsal surface of the tuberosity that of the Peronæus brevis.

A strong band of the plantar aponeurosis connects the projecting part of the tuberosity with the lateral process of the tuberosity of the calcaneus.

The plantar surface of the base is grooved for the tendon of the Abductor digiti quinti, and gives origin to the Flexor digiti quinti brevis.

The base of the metatarsal is often injured and a particularly notorious fracture is the Jones fracture. When the tuberosity is broken, it is called a pseudo-Jones fracture or a dancer's fracture.^[1] This is a common fracture of the fifth metatarsal.^[2]

Stress fractures are common in the fifth metatarsal among athletes.

Additional images

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  X-ray of foot, showing phalangeal fracture

References

1. ^ Robert Silbergleit. "Foot Fracture". Medscape.com. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/825060-overview. Retrieved 19 October 2011. 
2. ^ Gary A. Rosenberg and James J. Sferra (September/October 2000). "Treatment Strategies for Acute Fractures and Nonunions of the Proximal Fifth Metatarsal". Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 8 (5): 332–338. 

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.