Definition

1. Noun:
   • The part of the hand between the wrist and the fingers: The metacarpus is the intermediate, skeletal region of the hand, consisting of five long bones (the metacarpal bones) that connect the carpus (wrist) to the phalanges (finger bones).

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The boxer suffered a fracture in his metacarpus.
  • The metacarpus forms the bony framework of the palm of the hand.
  • In anatomy class, we studied the structure of the metacarpus.

Advanced Usage

• "Metacarpal" as an adjective: Pertaining to the metacarpus.
  • The metacarpal bones are numbered from one to five, starting with the thumb.
• "Metacarpal" as a noun: Refers to any one of the five bones that constitute the metacarpus.
  • He broke his third metacarpal.

Variants and Related Words

• Metacarpal (adj, n): The adjective form or the name for an individual bone within the metacarpus.
• Carpus (n): The group of bones forming the wrist, to which the metacarpus is connected.
• Phalanges (n): The bones of the fingers and thumb, to which the metacarpus is connected.

Synonyms

• Palm bones (informal/descriptive)
• Metacarpal bones (more specific)

Related Phrases

• Metacarpophalangeal joint (MCP joint): The joint formed between a metacarpal bone and a proximal phalanx (finger bone).
  • Arthritis commonly affects the metacarpophalangeal joints.

Noun

1. the part of the hand between the carpus and phalanges