metatarsal met·a·tar·sal (mět'ə-tär'səl)
adj.
Of or relating to the metatarsus. n.
Any of the five long bones that form the anterior portion of the foot and articulate posteriorly with the three cuneiform and the cuboid bones and anteriorly with the five proximal phalanges.
| metatarsal (mět'ə-tär'səl) Pronunciation Key
Any of the bones of the feet in humans or the back feet in animals that are located between the tarsal bones and the phalanges. |
metatarsal
any of several tubular bones between the ankle (tarsal) bones and each of the hindlimb digits, in land vertebrates corresponding to the metacarpal bones of the hand (forepaw). In humans the five metatarsal bones help form longitudinal arches along the inner and outer sides of the foot and a transverse arch at the ball of the foot. The first metatarsal (which adjoins the phalanges of the big toe) is enlarged and strengthened for its weight-bearing function in standing and walking on two feet
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