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Synonyms

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

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

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.

See Examples For:

B. The two radials blended superiorly, distinct inferiorly; this is the anterior extensor of the metacarpus.

From Artistic Anatomy of Animals by ?douard Cuyer

But the other variations are in the length of the metacarpus, or of the neck, or head.

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

The whole finger is preserved in other specimens straightened out so as to be in line with the metacarpus.

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

The distinctive character of the skeleton in this genus is found in the extraordinary length of the metacarpus and in the complete ossification of the smaller metacarpal bones throughout their length.

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

B. The radials represented by a single muscle, the anterior extensor of the metacarpus.

From Artistic Anatomy of Animals by ?douard Cuyer

This runs down the anterior and outer side of the upper arm, and is attached to the proximal tendon of the extensor metacarpi radialis longus, a little below the outer condyle of the humerus.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Slice 7 "Bible" to "Bisectrix" by Various

Certain cases may be greatly benefited by sectioning the tendons of the external and middle flexors of the metacarpi.

From Common Diseases of Farm Animals by R. A. Craig, D.V.M.

This will reveal the median nerve itself situated upon the red fibres of the flexor metacarpi internus muscle.

From Diseases of the Horse's Foot by Harry Caulton Reeks

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