The big toe joint is called the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint, also known as the first metatarsophalangeal (1st MTP) joint. This is the joint connecting the first metatarsal bone (the long bone in your foot) to the proximal phalanx (the bone in your big toe). It's also frequently referred to as the hallux metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint, with "hallux" being the anatomical term for the big toe.
Several sources confirm this:
- FootCareMD: States that the big toe joint is the "hallux metatarsal phalangeal (MTP) joint," connecting the first metatarsal bone to the base of the big toe bone and two sesamoid bones. https://www.footcaremd.org/conditions-treatments/toes/big-toe-arthritis-hallux-rigidus
- Cleveland Clinic: Identifies the big toe joint as the "metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint" in the context of hallux rigidus (arthritis of the big toe). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14665-hallux-rigidus
- AAOS (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons): Refers to the stiffening of this joint in the condition hallux rigidus. https://www.orthoinfo.org/en/diseases--conditions/stiff-big-toe-hallux-rigidus/
- Harvard Health: Highlights the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint as the big toe's most vulnerable joint to problems. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/big-problems-for-big-toe-joints-2019051316614
- Orthopaedics 360: Specifically mentions "the 1st Metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint" as the location for big toe arthritis. https://orthopaedics360.com.au/foot/big-toe-1st-mtp-joint-arthritis/
- The Foot Clinic: Refers to it as the "1st metatarsophalangeal joint (1st MPJ)". https://thefootclinic.net/big-toe-joint-pain/
- M.J. Taranto Podiatry: Also uses the term "first metatarsophalangeal joint (or 1st MTPJ)". https://www.mjtaranto.com.au/big-toe
While the big toe also has an interphalangeal joint connecting the two phalanges (bones) of the toe itself, the MTP joint is the one most frequently discussed and is the major point of concern in many foot conditions.
