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-Metatarsals are the five long bones nestled in the midfoot, forming the bridge between the [Tarsals](/wiki/tarsals) and the [Phalanges](/wiki/phalanges). These slender bones bear the body's weight, crucial for balance and every step.
+Metatarsals are the five long bones nestled in the midfoot, forming the bridge between the [Tarsals](/wiki/tarsals) and the [Phalanges](/wiki/phalanges). These slender bones, numbered I to V starting from the big toe, are crucial for supporting the body's weight, maintaining balance, and enabling propulsion during movement.
+Each metatarsal bone consists of a base (proximal end), a shaft (body), and a head (distal end). The bases articulate with the [Cuneiform](/wiki/cuneiform) and [Cuboid](/wiki/cuboid) bones of the tarsus, forming the tarsometatarsal [Joints](/wiki/joints). The heads, on the other hand, connect with the proximal phalanges, forming the metatarsophalangeal joints. The first metatarsal (big toe side) is typically the shortest and thickest, bearing significant load.
+These bones play a vital role in forming the arches of the foot, which absorb shock and distribute pressure during activities like walking, running, and jumping. They act as levers during the push-off phase of gait.
+Common conditions affecting the metatarsals include [Stress Fracture](/wiki/stress-fracture), often due to repetitive impact, and metatarsalgia, a painful inflammation in the ball of the foot.
+- [Stress Fracture](/wiki/stress-fracture)
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Auto-generated stub article
+Metatarsals are the five long bones nestled in the midfoot, forming the bridge between the [Tarsals](/wiki/tarsals) and the [Phalanges](/wiki/phalanges). These slender bones bear the body's weight, crucial for balance and every step.
+## See also
+- [Foot](/wiki/foot)
+- [Bone](/wiki/bone)
+- [Forefoot](/wiki/forefoot)