An imbalance between the extrinsic and intrinsic muscles of the foot can produce deformities of the lesser toes. These deformities are classified by how the separate toe joints are affected. Hammertoe deformities are characterized by flexion of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint and extension of the metatarsal-phalangeal (MTP) joint resulting in a prominent bump at the PIP joint. Claw toe deformities also have PIP flexion and MTP extension but additionally have flexion of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint which produces "clawing." Only the DIP joint is affected in mallet toe deformities, so the MTP and PIP joints are naturally extended but the DIP joint is flexed.
Full Article - https://www.orthopaedia.com/disorders-of-the-lesser-toes/
