First metatarsal (left) (Os metatarsale primum)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
The metatarsal of the big toe in the left foot: a long shaft with a tarsal base behind and a phalangeal head in front. The thickest and shortest, with two sesamoids beneath its head carrying the push-off load of the big toe.
Clinical notes
Fracture of its head or the sesamoids kills the natural push-off and shifts load to the second ray; hallux valgus displaces this head laterally with a bunion.
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the First metatarsal (left)?
The metatarsal of the big toe in the left foot: a long shaft with a tarsal base behind and a phalangeal head in front. The thickest and shortest, with two sesamoids beneath its head carrying the push-off load of the big toe.
Why is the First metatarsal (left) clinically important?
Fracture of its head or the sesamoids kills the natural push-off and shifts load to the second ray; hallux valgus displaces this head laterally with a bunion.
Source & license
Derived from Z-Anatomy (Gauthier Kervyn et al.), CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/); upstream geometry from BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science. license details