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carpus

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car⋅pus

[kahr-puhs]
–noun, plural -pi [-pahy] . Anatomy.
1. the part of the upper extremity between the hand and the forearm; wrist.
2. the wrist bones collectively; the group of bones between the bones of the hand and the radius.


Origin:
1670–80; < NL < Gk karpós wrist
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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car·pus   (kär'pəs)   
n.   pl. car·pi (-pī')
  1. The group of eight bones forming the joint between the forearm and the hand. Also called wrist.

  2. A joint in quadrupeds corresponding to the wrist.


[New Latin, from Greek karpos, wrist.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: car·pus
Pronunciation: 'kär-p&s
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural car·pi /-"pI, -"pE/
1 : WRIST
2 : the group of bones supporting the wrist comprising in humans a proximal row whichcontains the scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum, and pisiform that articulate with the radius and a distal row which contains the trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, and hamate that articulate with themetacarpals
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

carpus car·pus (kär'pəs)
n. pl. car·pi (-pī')

  1. The group of eight carpal bones and associated soft parts forming the joint between the forearm and the hand, articulating with the radius and indirectly with the ulna, and with the five metacarpal bones. Also called wrist.

  2. The carpal bones considered as a group.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Science Dictionary
carpus   (kär'pəs)  Pronunciation Key 
Plural carpi (kär'pī')
  1. The group of eight bones lying between the forearm and the metacarpals and forming the wrist in humans.

  2. The group of bones making up the joint corresponding to the wrist in some vertebrates, such as dinosaurs.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Encyclopedia

carpus

complex joint between the five metacarpal bones of the hand and the radius and ulna bones of the forearm. The wrist is composed of eight or nine small, short bones (carpal bones) roughly arranged in two rows. The wrist is also made up of several component joints: the distal radioulnar joint, which acts as a pivot for the forearm bones; the radiocarpal joint, between the radius and the first row of carpal bones, involved in wrist flexion and extension; the midcarpal joint, between two of the rows of carpal bones; and various intercarpal joints, between adjacent carpal bones within the rows. The numerous bones and their complex articulations give the wrist its flexibility and wide range of motion

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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