A comparative study of the spaces between the metacarpal and metatarsal heads.

The study of the spaces between the metacarpal heads on 23 cadavers, raises the question of the existence of bursae at this level. This is in line with recent studies suggesting that such bursae are present at this level in the foot. Careful dissection and histological studies revealed characteristics compatible with both of the following hypotheses: either the existence of bursae not described until now in anatomy text-books, or spaces limited by a cul-de-sac of the aponeuroses of the hand in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th digits. Tissue analyses that could determine more specifically the nature of the limiting membrane of these spaces, as well as pathological studies demonstrating the occurrence of common anomalies of bursae in these spaces, are required in order to conclude definitively the nature of the spaces between the metacarpal heads. The gross anatomical and histological characteristics of the spaces between the metacarpal and metatarsal heads and of their limiting membranes were compared and found to be analogous in our series.