metatarsal
/,metəs'tɑ:səl/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- Relating to the metatarsus: Pertaining to the group of five long bones in the foot located between the ankle bones (tarsals) and the bones of the toes (phalanges).
Noun:
- A bone of the metatarsus: Any one of the five elongated bones that form the main structure of the instep of the foot, connecting the ankle to the toes.
Examples of Usage
Adjective:
- The athlete suffered a metatarsal injury during the game.
- The metatarsal arch provides support for the front part of the foot.
Noun:
- An X-ray confirmed a fracture in the third metatarsal.
- Each metatarsal is numbered from one to five, starting with the big toe.
Advanced Usage
"Metatarsal head": The rounded distal end of a metatarsal bone that forms a joint with a toe bone (phalanx).
- Pain in the ball of the foot can be caused by inflammation of a metatarsal head.
"Metatarsal stress fracture": A small crack or severe bruising within a metatarsal bone, often caused by overuse.
- Runners are susceptible to metatarsal stress fractures.
Variants and Related Words
- Metatarsus (n): The collective term for the five metatarsal bones considered as a group, forming the skeleton of the instep.
- The metatarsus is a critical structure for balance and propulsion.
Synonyms
- Instep bone (informal/descriptive): A descriptive term for a metatarsal bone, referring to its location.
- There are no direct single-word synonyms for the anatomical terms "metatarsal" (adjective or noun).
Related Phrases
Metatarsal pad: A cushioning device placed in a shoe to relieve pressure on the metatarsal heads.
- She uses a metatarsal pad to alleviate discomfort while walking.
Metatarsal-phalangeal joint (MTP joint): The joint where a metatarsal bone meets a toe bone (phalanx).
- Arthritis commonly affects the metatarsal-phalangeal joints.
Adjective
- of or relating to the metatarsus
- metatarsal bones
Noun
- any bone of the foot between the ankle and the toes