Metatarsal bones

The five long bones in each foot that connect the tarsal bones to the bases of the toes. They support the arches and help transmit forces during standing and walking.

Tarsometatarsal joints: The joints between the tarsal bones and the bases of the metatarsals. These joints form the boundary between the midfoot and forefoot.
Foot biomechanics: The study of forces and motion in the foot during standing and movement. It explains how metatarsals share loads across the forefoot during gait.
Metatarsalgia: Pain in the ball of the foot, commonly beneath one or more metatarsal heads. Uneven loading across the metatarsal heads is a frequent source of this pain.
Metacarpal bones: The five long bones in each hand that connect the wrist bones to the fingers. They are the hand's anatomical counterparts to the foot's metatarsals.
Metatarsophalangeal joints: The joints between the metatarsal heads and the proximal phalanges of the toes. These joints let the toes bend at the ends of the metatarsals.
Gait: The pattern of movement used during walking. During push-off, load passes through the metatarsal heads toward the toes.
Metatarsal fracture: A break in one or more of the long bones of the forefoot. These fractures are a common direct injury to the bones themselves.
Carpal bones: The eight bones in each wrist that connect the forearm to the hand. They occupy the wrist, whereas the metatarsals lie in the foot's forepart.
Longitudinal arch of the foot: The curved arrangement of bones and soft tissues running lengthwise along the foot. The metatarsals contribute to the forefoot portion of this weight-bearing arch.
Windlass mechanism: The tightening of the plantar fascia as the toes extend, raising the foot's arch. Toe extension over the metatarsal heads helps engage this mechanism during push-off.

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