s]
. | 1. | Anatomy, Zoology. the bones of the proximal segment of the foot; the bones between the tibia and the metatarsus, contributing to the construction of the ankle joint. |
| 2. | the small plate of connective tissue along the border of an eyelid. |
| 3. | tarsometatarsus. |
| 4. | the distal part of the leg of an insect, usually subdivided in the adult into two to five segments. |

tarsus tar·sus (tär'səs)
n. pl. tar·si (-sī)
The area of articulation between the foot and the leg, comprising the seven bones of the instep: the talus, calcaneus, navicular, three cuneiform, and cuboid bones.
The fibrous plate that supports and shapes the edges of the eyelids. Also called tarsal plate.
| tarsus (tär'səs) Pronunciation Key
Plural tarsi (tär'sī, -sē)
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Tarsus
the chief city of Cilicia. It was distinguished for its wealth and for its schools of learning, in which it rivalled, nay, excelled even Athens and Alexandria, and hence was spoken of as "no mean city." It was the native place of the Apostle Paul (Acts 21:39). It stood on the banks of the river Cydnus, about 12 miles north of the Mediterranean. It is said to have been founded by Sardanapalus, king of Assyria. It is now a filthy, ruinous Turkish town, called Tersous. (See PAUL.)