The bone is somewhat flat giving it two surfaces; the plantar (towards the sole of the foot) and the dorsal side (the area facing upwards while standing).

The base articulates behind, by a triangular surface cut obliquely in a transverse direction, with the cuboid; and medially, with the fourth metatarsal.

The fifth metatarsal has a rough eminence on the lateral side of its base, known as the tuberosity or the styloid process.

Proximal fractures of the fifth metatarsal are common,[2] and are distinguished by their locations: Normal anatomy that may simulate a fracture include mainly: The tendon of the fibularis tertius inserts on the medial part of the dorsal surface and the fibularis brevis on the dorsal surface of the tuberosity.

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 274 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)