Metatarsal bones the metatarsals are the bones most often involved. These fractures are sometimes called march fractures, based on their traditional association with military recruits after long marches. The second and third metatarsals are fixed while walking, thus these metatarsals are common sites of injury. The fifth metatarsal may be fractured if the foot is oversupinated during locomotion. Protection from injuries can be given by the use of safety footwear which can use built-in or removable metatarsal guards. Metatarsal bones The metatarsal bones, or metatarsus are a group of five long bones in the foot, located between the tarsal bones of the
Vancleavea parts of the hand. The second metacarpal is longer, and the third and fourth are tied for the longest bones of the hand. Unguals (claws) have not been found, and the rounded ends of certain phalanges indicates that "Vancleavea" likely did not possess them. As with other reptiles, each hip of "Vancleavea" is formed by three plate-like bones: the illium (above the hip socket), the pubis (in front of the hip socket), and the ischium (behind the hip socket). The illium of "Vancleavea" is particularly unusual. Most archosauriforms have illia which are somewhat low, directed from front to back (anteroposteriorly).