metatarsal

[ met-uh-tahr-suhl ]

adjective

1. of or relating to the metatarsus, the part of the foot that includes the bones between the ankle and toes.

noun

1. a bone in the metatarsus.

metatarsal

/ ˌmɛtəˈtɑːsəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the metatarsus

noun

1. any bone of the metatarsus

metatarsal

/ mĕt′ə-tär′səl /

1. Any of the bones of the feet in humans or the back feet in animals that are located between the tarsal bones and the phalanges.

Other Words From

• meta·tarsal·ly adverb
• inter·meta·tarsal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of metatarsal¹

First recorded in 1730–40; meta- + tarsal

Example Sentences

All specimens from Arteaga have two palmar tubercles; the inner and outer metatarsal tubercles are subequal in size.

From Project Gutenberg

There is no evidence of a pulley joint between the metatarsal and the adjacent phalange.

From Project Gutenberg

The most common site is over the articulation of the metatarsal bone with the phalanx of the first or last toe.

From Project Gutenberg

The fore-feet have four complete toes (fig. 3, a), but there are only three hind-toes, with a rudiment of the fifth metatarsal.

From Project Gutenberg

The five digits of the foot each consist of a metatarsal and of a certain number of phalanges.

From Project Gutenberg