metacarpus
Americannoun
noun
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the skeleton of the hand between the wrist and the fingers, consisting of five long bones
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the corresponding bones in other vertebrates
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.
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
B. The two radials blended superiorly, distinct inferiorly; this is the anterior extensor of the metacarpus.
From Artistic Anatomy of Animals by Cuyer, ?douard
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 Seeley, H. G.
The hand in animals, as in man, is formed of three parts—the carpus, metacarpus, and fingers.
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.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
