Phalanges Flashcards

Explore the toe phalanges, including their arrangement, anatomical features, articulations, tendon attachments, movements, and clinical anatomy.

Card 1 of 30Question

How many phalanges are normally present in each foot?

Fourteen phalanges.

In This Section

1. How many phalanges are normally present in each foot?

Fourteen phalanges.

2. How are the phalanges of the foot classified by bone shape?

Long bones.

3. How many phalanges form the great toe?

Two, the proximal and distal phalanges.

4. How many phalanges normally form each of the second through fifth toes?

Three, the proximal, middle, and distal phalanges.

5. What are the three principal anatomical parts of a typical toe phalanx?

The base, shaft, and head.

6. Which bones articulate with the bases of the proximal phalanges?

The heads of the corresponding metatarsal bones.

7. What type of synovial joints are the metatarsophalangeal joints?

Condyloid synovial joints.

8. What movements occur at the metatarsophalangeal joints?

Flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, and limited circumduction.

9. How many interphalangeal joints does the great toe have?

One, between its proximal and distal phalanges.

10. What are the two interphalangeal joints of a typical lesser toe?

The proximal interphalangeal and distal interphalangeal joints.

11. What type of synovial joints are the interphalangeal joints?

Hinge synovial joints permitting primarily flexion and extension.

12. Which structures reinforce the medial and lateral sides of the toe joints?

Collateral ligaments.

13. What structures reinforce the plantar surfaces of the metatarsophalangeal and interphalangeal joints?

Fibrocartilaginous plantar plates or plantar ligaments.

14. Which tendon inserts onto the base of the distal phalanx of the great toe on its plantar surface?

The flexor hallucis longus tendon.

15. Which tendon inserts onto the dorsal base of the distal phalanx of the great toe?

The extensor hallucis longus tendon.

16. Which muscle inserts onto both sides of the proximal phalanx of the great toe through its tendons?

The flexor hallucis brevis muscle.

17. Which muscle inserts onto the medial side of the base of the great toe's proximal phalanx?

The abductor hallucis muscle.

18. Which muscle inserts onto the lateral side of the base of the great toe's proximal phalanx?

The adductor hallucis muscle.

19. Which tendon inserts onto the bases of the middle phalanges of toes two through five?

The flexor digitorum brevis tendons.

20. Which tendon inserts onto the plantar bases of the distal phalanges of toes two through five?

The flexor digitorum longus tendons.

21. Which tendons contribute to the dorsal extensor expansions of toes two through five?

The extensor digitorum longus tendons, assisted by extensor digitorum brevis, lumbricals, and interossei.

22. What is the principal action of the lumbrical muscles on the lesser toe joints?

Flexion at the metatarsophalangeal joints and extension at the interphalangeal joints.

23. What are the two main actions of the dorsal interossei on the lesser toes?

Abduction from the second toe axis and assistance with metatarsophalangeal flexion.

24. What is the principal action of the plantar interossei on the toes?

Adduction of toes three through five toward the second toe.

25. What is the distal phalangeal tuberosity?

An expanded roughened region at the distal end of a terminal phalanx supporting the toe pulp.

26. Which arteries primarily supply the phalanges of the toes?

The proper plantar and dorsal digital arteries.

27. What is a hammer toe deformity?

Flexion deformity of the proximal interphalangeal joint, often accompanied by metatarsophalangeal hyperextension.

28. What is a mallet toe deformity?

A flexion deformity primarily affecting the distal interphalangeal joint.

29. What is a claw toe deformity?

Hyperextension at the metatarsophalangeal joint with flexion of the proximal and distal interphalangeal joints.

30. What is a common mechanism of toe phalangeal fracture?

Direct trauma, such as stubbing the toe or dropping a heavy object onto it.