metacarpal

[met-uh-kahr-puhl]

adjective

Anatomy.

1. of or relating to the metacarpus.

noun

1. a metacarpal bone.

metacarpal

/ ˌmɛtəˈkɑːpəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the metacarpus

noun

1. a metacarpal bone

metacarpal

1. Any of the bones of the hands in humans or the forelimbs in animals that are located between the carpal bones and the phalanges.

Other Word Forms

• intermetacarpal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of metacarpal¹

First recorded in 1730–40; meta- + carpal

Example Sentences

The move comes 17 days after Machado sustained a fractured metacarpal in his left hand when he was hit by a pitch.

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The Wolves announced on Monday that McDaniels has been placed in a cast with two fractures - the third and fourth metacarpals - in his hand.

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I'd start with a small, manageable story: one hand has twenty-seven bones, split into three types—the carpals, the metacarpals, and the slippery phalanges.

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Blue Jays C Danny Jansen was placed on the 10-day Injured List with a fractured fifth metacarpal in his left hand.

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The Bucks later confirmed he had a fourth metacarpal fracture on his right hand.

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