Joints

Joints in the feet are formed wherever two or more of these bones meet.

Except for the big toe, each of the toes has three joints, which include:

• metatarsophalangeal joint (MCP) – the joint at the base of the toe
• proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP) – the joint in the middle of the toe
• distal phalangeal joint (DP) – the joint closest to the tip of the toe.

The surfaces of the bones where they meet to form joints are covered with a layer of cartilage, which allows them to glide smoothly against one another as they move. The joints are enclosed by a fibrous capsule that is lined with a thin membrane called the synovium, which secretes a fluid to lubricate the joints.