page_title: Morton's toe
section_title: Presentation
hierarchical_section_title: Morton's toe / Presentation
caption_attribution_description: English: A picture of an extreme case of Morton's Toe
context_page_description: Morton's toe is the condition of having a first metatarsal which is short in relation to the second metatarsal. It is a type of brachymetatarsia.
  The distal metatarsal bones vary in relative length compared to the proximal.
  For most feet, a smooth curve can be traced through the joints at the bases of the toes. But in Morton's foot, the line has to bend more sharply to go through the base of the big toe, as shown in the diagram. This is because the first metatarsal, behind the big toe, is short compared to the second metatarsal, next to it. The longer second metatarsal puts the MTP joint at the base of the second toe further forward.
  If the big toe and the second toe are the same length, then the second toe will protrude farther than the big toe, as shown in the photo. If the second toe is shorter than the big toe, the big toe may still protrude the furthest, or there may be little difference, as shown in the X-ray.
context_section_description: The most common symptom experienced due to Morton's toe is callusing and/or discomfort of the metatarsal heads at the base of the second phalanges. The first metatarsal head would normally bear the majority of a person's body weight during the propulsive phases of gait, but because the second metatarsal head is farthest forward, the force is transferred there. Pain may also be felt in the arch of the foot, at the ankleward end of the first and second metatarsals.
  In shoe-wearing cultures, Morton's toe can be problematic. For instance, wearing shoes with a profile that does not accommodate a longer second toe may cause foot pain. A small (80-person) study found no statistically significant difference in the frequency of longer second toes between people with and without ingrown toenails, but tight and ill-fitting shoes are generally considered to increase the risk of ingrown toenails, and shoes are often too tight on the toes. A tight shoe toebox can also cause hammertoes.
caption: Occasionally, Morton's toe can be severe enough that the third toe also appears longer than the first.
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