The metatarsophalangeal joint is the joining of the metatarsal bones and the phalanges, or toe bones. To put it simply, these joints connect the foot bones to the toe bones. A thin joint capsule surrounds these joints and supports them with ligaments. Additionally, the first MTP joint is the big toe joint, while the fifth MTP joint is the little toe joint. The big toe connects to two bones underneath the big toe, called sesamoid bones. These bones are located on the bottom, or plantar surface of the foot.