Sesamoid bones are commonly found in and around joints. While
sesamoid bones can be found around any joint in the foot, they
are consistently found within the joint of the great toe. The
great toe joint contains 2 sesamoid bones, the tibial and
fibular sesamoids. The sesamoids serve 2 very important
functions based on their location: 1) they serve to protect the
large tendon to the great toe, the Flexor Hallucis Longus, which
functions to pull the toe down against the ground during gait.
The tendon courses between these two bones; 2) they also serve
as a fulcrum for the short flexor tendon, Flexor Hallucis
Brevis, which attaches to the base of the great toe. This tendon
stabilizes the toe against the ground at the push-off phase of
gait and allows for effective forward propulsion of the body.
Because of their location and the amount of force transmitted
through these bones, they are susceptible to a variety of
injuries. Additionally, certain foot structures and activities
will increase the susceptibility of t