Are Metatarsals and Phalanges the same thing?
- Metatarsals are the five long bones that connect the ankle to the toes.
- Phalanges are the fourteen bones that make up the toes.
Each toe has three phalanges, except for the big toe, which has only two. The metatarsals are numbered 1-5 from the big toe to the little toe. The phalanges are numbered 1-3 from the proximal (closest to the body) to the distal (furthest from the body).
Metatarsals and phalanges are both long bones, but they have different functions. Metatarsals provide support and stability to the foot, while phalanges allow the toes to move.