Bone of the Month – n°2: The Metatarsals

Exploring the fascinating world of bone biology… Let’s continue our “𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡” 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 by focusing on human metatarsal bones, essential structures of the foot.

The human foot contains five metatarsal bones, small long bones typically measuring between 5 and 7.5 cm in adults. Positioned between the tarsal bones and the toe phalanges, metatarsals play a crucial role in weight bearing, balance, and propulsion during walking and running.

𝐈𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡, 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 for studying:

✅ Bone adaptation to mechanical loading
✅ Fracture healing and consolidation
✅ Bone remodeling under physiological and pathological conditions

Our 2D and 3D image analyses from pig or rodent hind paw help illustrate how comparative anatomy and animal models are used to better understand human foot biomechanics and bone biology. In rodents, metatarsals are longer and more slender relative to body size, reflecting their digitigrade posture and locomotion, whereas human metatarsals are adapted for bipedal stance and efficient load distribution.

💡 Fun fact: the 1st metatarsal is the shortest but thickest of the five and it carries a disproportionate share of body weight during walking, playing a key role in push-off and balance.

Watch the video >

At Atlantic Bone Screen, 𝐰𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞-𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐬, to support our partners in advancing bone-related research and innovation.
🧾 See all our publications >

👀 Stay tuned for next month’s Bone of the Month and discover another fascinating structure from the human skeleton through the lens of science…

#BoneOfTheMonth #Metatarsals #BoneResearch #Osteoarticular #PreclinicalModels #BoneBiology