The metatarsal bones are a group of five long bones in the foot, located between the tarsal bones and phalanges.

The five metatarsal bones lack individual names, and are numbered from the medial side of the foot as the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth metatarsal bone. The spaces between the metatarsal bones are called interosseous metatarsal spaces.

Each metatarsal bone consists of three parts: base, body, and head.

Base - the proximal extremity of each metatarsal bone that articulates proximally with the tarsal bones (at the tarsometatarsal joints) and by their sides with each other (at the intermetatarsal joints). The dorsal and plantar surfaces of the bases serve for the attachments of ligaments.
Body - the shaft or middle part of each metatarsal bone that extends between the base and the head. It is prismoid in form, curved longitudinally, concave below and slightly convex above.
Head - the distal extremity of each metatarsal bone that has a convex articular surface for articulation with the proximal phalanges (at the metatarsophalangeal joints). The sides of the heads of the metatarsal bones serve for the attachments of ligaments, while the plantar surfaces are grooved antero-posteriorly for the passage of the flexor tendons.

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Metatarsal bones