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#299 1st metatarsal and phalanges

musculoskeletal
closed-accepted
None
5
2014-04-22
2014-04-20
No

Looking at this part of the hierarchy:

...is_a HP:0011297 ! Abnormality of the digits [DEF: "A morphological abnormality of a `digit` (FMA:85518), i.e., of a finger or toe."]
....is_a HP:0001780 ! Abnormality of toe [DEF: "An anomaly of a `toe` (FMA:25046)."]
.....is_a HP:0010161 ! Abnormality of the phalanges of the toes
......is_a HP:0010184 ! Abnormality of the proximal phalanges of the toes
.......is_a HP:0100946 ! Sclerosis of the proximal phalanges of the toes
........is_a HP:0100945 ! Sclerosis of the 1st metatarsal *** 

(note most terms lack definitions, we could add these automatically).

The underlying assumption here appears to be that MP1 is a phalanx. Is this intended?

I believe there is some debate in which some people believe MP1 to be a truly a phalanx (making what is often called the proximal phalanx actually the middle phalanx), due to some similarities in development...

Do clinicians consider the 1st metatarsal to be a phalanx?

And more generally, do clinicians consider the metatarsals and metacarpals to be part of toes and fingers?

Discussion

  • Chris Mungall

    Chris Mungall - 2014-04-20

    Looking at other metacarpal and metatarsal abnormalities, MP1 seems to be an outlier. In all other cases the underlying assumption is that the metapodial elements are not part of the digits, but instead connect to them.

     
  • Peter N. Robinson

    • status: unread --> closed-accepted
    • assigned_to: Peter N. Robinson
     
  • Peter N. Robinson

    The meta[carpal|tarsal] bones are not considered to be phalanges, but the first metacarpal sort of is one -- just look at it move when you move your thumb, it is like no other metacarpal and has a different embryological origin.
    Nevertheless, looking back on things, it was confusing to list the first meta[carpal|tarsal] bones as we did, that is sort of an insider joke but is not reflected in say the FMA. Therefore, I have put all of the terms under abn of meta[carpal|tarsal] and taken them out of phalanx.
    The skeletal system was the first big system that we revised after the HPO was initially created. Looking back, there are a number of infelicities. I have tried to correct some of the this afternoon (e.g., use of plural in term names), will probably continue in the near future.

     

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