Human Anatomy, Part 1 - K. A. Dubenko, A. K. Kolomiysev, Y. B. Chaikovsky 2002

Special Part
Bones of the Foot
Phalanges

The BONES OF THE digits [phalanges], ossa digitorum, are tubular bones (see Fig. 70), each consisting of a body (corpus phalangis), a HEAD (caput phalangis), and a base (basis phalangis). The phalanges are divided into proximal (phalanx proximalis), middle (phalanx media), and distal (phalanx distalis) phalanges. The toes each have three phalanges, with the exception of the big toe (hallux), which has only two: a proximal and a distal phalanx.

Ossification. Ossification centers in the Tarsal Bones appear sequentially, ranging from 6 months of intrauterine development up to 5 years of age. The first center appears in the calcaneus, and the last in the navicular bone. The ossification center in the calcaneal tuberosity develops at 7–10 years of age and fuses with the body between 12 and 15 years. In the phalanges of the toes, ossification centers emerge in the diaphysis at 10–13 weeks, in the proximal epiphysis at 1–3 years, and in the heads of the Metatarsal Bones During the first year of life.



Last update: 08/08/2026

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