Ligament · Foot

Superficial transverse metatarsal ligament

Not a joint ligament at all — a thin transverse band lying in the fatty superficial fascia just under the skin at the roots of the toes, spanning the web spaces across the ball of the foot. It has no bony attachment at either end; it blends into the surrounding fascia and the skin, which is why it takes the name natatory, after the webbing it resembles. It must not be confused with the deep transverse metatarsal ligament, which lies far below it and ties the plantar plates of the toe joints together. Its practical significance is as a marker of layers: it lies on the skin side of the digital nerves and vessels heading out to the toes, whereas the deep ligament lies beyond them.