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metacarpus

American  
[met-uh-kahr-puhs] / ˌmɛt əˈkɑr pəs /

noun

Anatomy.
metacarpi plural
  1. the part of a hand or forelimb, especially of its bony structure, included between the wrist, or carpus, and the fingers, or phalanges.


metacarpus British  
/ ˌmɛtəˈkɑːpəs /

noun

  1. the skeleton of the hand between the wrist and the fingers, consisting of five long bones

  2. the corresponding bones in other vertebrates

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of metacarpus

1670–80; < New Latin ( see meta-, carpus), replacing metacarpium < Greek metakárpion

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As its name indicates, this muscle extends the metacarpus.

From Artistic Anatomy of Animals by Cuyer, ?douard

In that type the head appears to have been about 3 or 4 feet long, and the wing finger exceeded 5 feet; while the length of the fore-arm and metacarpus exceeded 3 feet.

From Dragons of the Air An Account of Extinct Flying Reptiles by Seeley, H. G.

The external rudimentary metatarsal is better developed than the internal; in the metacarpus the reverse is the case.

From Artistic Anatomy of Animals by Cuyer, ?douard

The metacarpus is reduced to a single piece, which in the horse constitutes what is known as the canon.

From Artistic Anatomy of Animals by Cuyer, ?douard

This condition is well seen in Professor Marsh's specimen of Rhamphorhynchus, which has the wing membrane preserved, in which all bones of the fore-arm metacarpus and wing finger are extended in a continuous curve.

From Dragons of the Air An Account of Extinct Flying Reptiles by Seeley, H. G.

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