Dorsal interossei muscles in the feet will help abduct and flex the toes.

Dorsal interossei muscles in the feet will help abduct and flex the toes.

• A. Abduct and Flex
• B. Adduct and Extend
• C. Abduct and Extend
• D. Flex and Extend

Answer: (A)

Dorsal interossei act as the toe abductors. They sit between the metatarsals and spread the toes away from the midline (toward the sides of the foot), with the second toe often serving as the reference point. They also assist in flexing the metatarsophalangeal joints while helping extension at the toe joints through the toe’s extensor mechanism. So describing them as abducting the toes and aiding in flexion accurately reflect their primary action. Adduction is done by the plantar interossei, and simply extending without abduction doesn’t capture their main role.

Dorsal interossei act as the toe abductors. They sit between the metatarsals and spread the toes away from the midline (toward the sides of the foot), with the second toe often serving as the reference point. They also assist in flexing the metatarsophalangeal joints while helping extension at the toe joints through the toe’s extensor mechanism. So describing them as abducting the toes and aiding in flexion accurately reflect their primary action. Adduction is done by the plantar interossei, and simply extending without abduction doesn’t capture their main role.