Dorsal interossei of the foot
Encyclopedia
In human anatomy
, the dorsal interossei of the foot are four muscles situated between the metatarsal
bones.
muscles each originating by two heads from the proximal half of the of the sides of adjacent metatarsal bones.
. The tendons are inserted on the bases of the second, third, and fourth proximal phalanges
and into the aponeurosis
of the tendons of the extensor digitorum longus
without attaching to the extensor hoods of the toes.
Thus, the first is inserted into the medial side of the second toe; the other three are inserted into the lateral sides of the second, third, and fourth toes.
at the metatarsophalangeal joints of the third and fourth toes. Because there is a pair of dorsal interossei muscles attached on both sides of the second toe, contraction of these muscles results in no movement (i.e. the midline of the hand is in the third finger, but the midline of the foot is in the second toe).
Abduction is of little importance in the foot, but, together with the plantar interossei, the dorsal interossei also produce flexion at the metatarsophalangeal joints. Also small, the dorsal interossei are powerful muscles that, together with their plantar counterparts, controls the direction of the toes during violent activity, and thus allowing the long and short flexors to perform their actions.
Because of the relationship to the metatarsophalangeal joints, the interossei muscles also contributes to maintaining the anterior metatarsal arch of the foot
and also, to a limited extent, to the medial and lateral longitudinal arches of the foot.
(S2–3). Those in the fourth interosseous space are innervated by the superficial branch and the other by the deep branch.
enters the sole of the foot.
Human anatomy
Human anatomy is primarily the scientific study of the morphology of the human body. Anatomy is subdivided into gross anatomy and microscopic anatomy. Gross anatomy is the study of anatomical structures that can be seen by the naked eye...
, the dorsal interossei of the foot are four muscles situated between the metatarsal
Metatarsus
The metatarsus or metatarsal bones are a group of five long bones in the foot located between the tarsal bones of the hind- and mid-foot and the phalanges of the toes. Lacking individual names, the metatarsal bones are numbered from the medial side : the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth...
bones.
Origin
The four interossei muscles are bipenniformBipennate muscle
A modification of the unipennate condition is found where oblique fibers converge to both sides of a central tendon; these are called bipennate. Bipennate muscle is stronger than unipennate - it shortens less than unipennate muscles but develops greater tension when it does...
muscles each originating by two heads from the proximal half of the of the sides of adjacent metatarsal bones.
Insertion
The two heads of each muscle form a central tendon which passes forwards deep to the deep transverse metatarsal ligamentTransverse metatarsal ligament
The transverse metatarsal ligament is a narrow band which runs across and connects together the heads of all the metatarsal bones; it is blended anteriorly with the plantar ligaments of the metatarsophalangeal articulations....
. The tendons are inserted on the bases of the second, third, and fourth proximal phalanges
Proximal phalanges
Proximal phalanges are bones found in the limbs of most vertebrates. In humans, they are the bones at the base of a toe or finger, the prominent, knobby ends of which are often called the knuckles....
and into the aponeurosis
Aponeurosis
Aponeuroses are layers of flat broad tendons. They have a shiny, whitish-silvery color, are histologically similar to tendons, and are very sparingly supplied with blood vessels and nerves. When dissected, aponeuroses are papery, and peel off by sections...
of the tendons of the extensor digitorum longus
Extensor digitorum longus muscle
The Extensor digitorum longus is a pennate muscle, situated at the lateral part of the front of the leg.-Origin and insertion:It arises from the lateral condyle of the tibia; from the upper three-fourths of the anterior surface of the body of the fibula; from the upper part of the interosseous...
without attaching to the extensor hoods of the toes.
Thus, the first is inserted into the medial side of the second toe; the other three are inserted into the lateral sides of the second, third, and fourth toes.
Action
The dorsal interossei abductsAbduction (kinesiology)
Abduction, in functional anatomy, is a movement which draws a limb away from the median plane of the body. It is thus opposed to adduction.-Upper limb:* of arm at shoulder ** Supraspinatus** Deltoid* of hand at wrist...
at the metatarsophalangeal joints of the third and fourth toes. Because there is a pair of dorsal interossei muscles attached on both sides of the second toe, contraction of these muscles results in no movement (i.e. the midline of the hand is in the third finger, but the midline of the foot is in the second toe).
Abduction is of little importance in the foot, but, together with the plantar interossei, the dorsal interossei also produce flexion at the metatarsophalangeal joints. Also small, the dorsal interossei are powerful muscles that, together with their plantar counterparts, controls the direction of the toes during violent activity, and thus allowing the long and short flexors to perform their actions.
Because of the relationship to the metatarsophalangeal joints, the interossei muscles also contributes to maintaining the anterior metatarsal arch of the foot
Arches of the foot
-External links:* * *...
and also, to a limited extent, to the medial and lateral longitudinal arches of the foot.
Innervation
All dorsal interossei are innervated by the lateral plantar nerveLateral plantar nerve
The lateral plantar nerve is a branch of the tibial nerve, in turn a branch of the sciatic nerve and supplies the skin of the fifth toe and lateral half of the fourth, as well as most of the deep muscles, its distribution being similar to that of the ulnar nerve in the hand.It passes obliquely...
(S2–3). Those in the fourth interosseous space are innervated by the superficial branch and the other by the deep branch.
Relations
In the angular interval left between the heads of each of the three lateral muscles, one of the perforating arteries passes to the dorsum of the foot; through the space between the heads of the first muscle the deep plantar branch of the dorsalis pedis arteryDorsalis pedis artery
In human anatomy, the dorsalis pedis artery , is a blood vessel of the lower limb that carries oxygenated blood from the dorsal surface of the foot. It arises at the anterior aspect of the ankle joint and is a continuation of the anterior tibial artery...
enters the sole of the foot.
See also
- Dorsal interossei of the handDorsal interossei of the handThe dorsal interossei of the hand are muscles that occupy the space between the metacarpals.-Structure:There are four dorsal interossei in each hand...
- Palmar interossei musclesPalmar interossei musclesThe palmar interossei are small muscles in the hand that lie on the anterior aspect of the metacarpals. They are smaller than the dorsal interossei of the hand, which lie between the metacarpals.-Structure:...
- Plantar interossei musclesPlantar interossei musclesThe plantar interossei, three in number, lie beneath rather than between the metatarsal bones, and each is connected with but one metatarsal bone....