Covers the general features of the toes, including their thinner shape and the wide big toe, followed by the skin and adipose pads, which are thicker and fattier on the plantar side. Describes the four neurovascular bundles per toe, the fibrous sheath and synovial sheaths of the plantar flexor tendons, and the dorsal extensor aponeurosis. Ends with clinical notes on Morton's neuroma and rheumatoid arthritis of the toes.
Inside: 4 sections · 15 flashcards · 3 min
Topic 247 of 264 in the MU Sofia syllabus for Anatomy (Dental Medicine, Year 2). The free AceMed note covers it in 4 sections, about 360 words (3 min of reading), with 15 flashcards.
In this note
DIGITS of the foot
Plantar Aspect of Toes
Dorsal Aspect of Toes
Clinical Significance:
DIGITS of the foot
1. General Characteristics
Toes are shorter and thinner than fingers.
The big toe (hallux) is nearly as wide as the thumb.
Proximal phalanges heads of toes II to V are very distinct
2. Skin and Adipose Tissue
Skin is thicker on the plantar side of the toes.
Greater amount of adipose tissue on the plantar side, especially at the distal phalanges.
Adipose tissue forms cushions or “pads” on the toes.
Fibrous strands cross the adipose tissue, giving it a lobu appearance.
Superficial fascia is thin on the remaining toe surface.
3. Neurovascular Bundles (NVBs)
Each toe has four NVBs: two dorsal and two plantar.
Dorsal NVBs are continuations of aa., v., et n. digitales dorsales.
Plantar NVBs consist of aa., v., et nn. digitales plantares proprii.
Plantar Aspect of Toes
1. Fibrous Sheath (Vagina Fibrosa)
Encloses an osteofibrous canal.
Canal transmits the tendons of flexor digitorum muscles.
Tendon of the short flexor muscle (flexor digitorum brevis) bifurcates and inserts into the base of the middle phalanx.
Long flexor tendons (flexor digitorum longus) pass deep to the short tendon’s bifurcation, continuing distally to insert into the distal phalanx.
At the hallux, the canal transmits only the tendon of m. flexor hallucis longus.
