metacarpal bone
1
5.6
- noun
- /ˌmɛtəˈkɑrpəl boʊn/
- Specialized
:
hueso metacarpiano
- The thumb is fixed dorsally, aligning the dorsal surface of the trapezial and metacarpal bones, and the wing over the metacarpal bone is attached in the same fashion as the trapezial wing.
- the first metacarpal bone
Examples
-
Osteophytes are removed from the joint, and the positions of the Artelon wings are marked on the dorsal cortex of the trapezial and metacarpal bones.
Academic text (2011) -
The thumb is fixed dorsally, aligning the dorsal surface of the trapezial and metacarpal bones, and the wing over the metacarpal bone is attached in the same fashion as the trapezial wing.
Academic text (2011) -
As a general rule, the metacarpal bones are too delicate to withstand the force that a very vigorous extension of the arm produces.
Blog text (4) -
The Artelon spacer prevents impingement between the trapezium and metacarpal bones.
Academic text (2011) -
This allowed the cups to cradle two-thirds of the implant, one-third by the trapezium and one-third by the metacarpal bone.
Academic text (2015) -
Exclusion criteria included patients with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, scaphotrapezial arthritis, and dislocation of the base of the first metacarpal bone.
Academic text (2015) -
Following the resection of the distal surface of the trapezium and the base of the first metacarpal bone with a sagittal saw, the implant sizer was placed flat on the surface of the trapezium.
Academic text (2015) -
The doctor explained that the injury was to the metacarpal bone in his hand.
-
She fractured her metacarpal bone after falling while playing basketball.
-
During the surgery, the surgeon carefully examined each metacarpal bone to assess any damage.
Synonyms
7
6.8
One of the five long bones in the hand between the wrist and the fingers
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is fully compositional: 'metacarpal' already denotes a specific long bone of the hand and 'bone' is the generic noun, so the combined phrase simply specifies that type of bone. Although anatomical terminology is technical, the noun-noun/adjunct structure is transparent and cross-linguistically regular, so a learner who knows both constituents will understand the meaning.
Etymology
Metacarpal bone comes from old Greek parts: meta meaning 'after' or 'beyond' and carpal meaning 'wrist'. So it literally names the long bones just beyond the wrist, which is why it means the five bones in the hand between the wrist and the fingers.