metatarsus

American  

[met-uh-tahr-suhs] / ˌmɛt əˈtɑr səs /

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.

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metatarsus British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of metatarsus

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.”

From 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.

From Fox News

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

From New York Times

The metatarsus is represented by a principal metatarsal, formed by the coalescence of two metatarsals; we also find in this region a very small rudimentary metatarsal.

From Project Gutenberg

When the upper row is united with the tibia the lower row remains distinct from the metatarsus, though no one has examined these separate tarsal bones so as to define them.

From Project Gutenberg