metatarsal artery
- noun
- /ˌmɛtəˈtɑrsəl ˈɑrteri/
- Specialized
- The surgeon carefully traced the metatarsal artery during the foot operation.
Examples
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Damage to the metatarsal artery can seriously affect blood flow to the toes.
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An injury to a metatarsal artery may cause excessive bleeding in the foot.
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The metatarsal artery supplies blood to the toes.
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Many injuries can affect the metatarsal arteries.
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An injury to a metatarsal artery can lead to severe bleeding in the foot.
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The surgeon carefully examined the metatarsal artery to ensure proper blood flow during the procedure.
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Damage to the metatarsal artery might result in reduced circulation to the toes.
Synonyms
A blood vessel that carries blood to the middle part of the foot near the toes
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun phrase is a straightforward adjective + noun composition: 'metatarsal' (related to the forefoot) + 'artery' (a blood vessel), so the meaning 'an artery supplying the metatarsal region' is directly derivable from the parts. This follows ordinary medical/nominal composition patterns common across languages, making it transparent to learners who know both constituents.
Etymology
Metatarsal artery is a compound name that tells you where and what it is: artery means a blood vessel and metatarsal points to the long bones between the ankle and the toes. Imagine a small road along those bones carrying blood to the toes, so the phrase simply means 'a blood vessel that supplies the metatarsal area of the foot'.