Metatarsal bones are the five long bones located in the center of the foot. They exist between the tarsal bones of the hind and mid-foot and the phalanges of the toes. They connect to the phalanges via metatarsophalangeal articulations (joints).
Football and soccer players frequently experience metatarsal bone fractures, which has been attributed to the lightweight design on many sports shoes. When metatarsal bones are broken, it’s sometimes called a march fracture, which is thought to stem from their association with long military marches.