metatarsus

[met-uh-tahr-suhs]

noun

Anatomy, Zoology.

plural

metatarsi 

1. the part of a foot or hind limb, especially its bony structure, included between the tarsus and the toes or phalanges.

metatarsus

/ ˌmɛtəˈtɑːsəs /

noun

1. the skeleton of the human foot between the toes and the tarsus, consisting of five long bones

2. the corresponding skeletal part in other vertebrates

Word History and Origins

Origin of metatarsus¹

From New Latin, dating back to 1670–80; meta-, tarsus

Example Sentences

“Furthermore, each leg of mine has seven sections—the coxa, the trochanter, the femur, the patella, the tibia, the metatarsus, and the tarsus.”

Read more on Literature

"The new specimen preserves teeth, elements from all regions of the postcranial axial skeleton, parts of both appendicular girdles, and portions of both limbs including a complete metatarsus," the study's abstract reads.

Read more on Fox News

I collect the standard samples — skull, mandible and metatarsus.

Read more on New York Times

The portion which corresponds to that which is fleshy in the horse arises from the tibia; below, it ends on the inner surface of the superior extremity of the metatarsus and the cuneiform bones.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

There is great similarity between Dinosaurs and Pterodactyles seen in the region of the instep, known as the metatarsus.

Read more on Project Gutenberg