tarsal

tarsal
/tahr"seuhl/, adj.
1. of or pertaining to the tarsus of the foot.
2. pertaining to the tarsi of the eyelids.
n.
3. a tarsal bone, joint, or the like.
[1810-20; TARS(US) + -AL1]

* * *

bone
      any of several short, angular bones that in humans make up the ankle and that—in animals that walk on their toes (e.g., dogs, cats) or on hoofs—are contained in the hock, lifted off the ground. The tarsals correspond to the carpal bones of the upper limb. In humans the tarsals, in combination with the metatarsal bones, form a longitudinal arch in the foot—a shape well adapted for carrying and transferring weight in bipedal locomotion.

      In the human ankle there are seven tarsal bones. The talus (astragalus) articulates above with the bones of the lower leg to form the ankle joint. The other six tarsals, tightly bound together by ligaments below the talus, function as a strong weight-bearing platform. The calcaneus, or heel bone, is the largest tarsal and forms the prominence at the back of the foot. The remaining tarsals include the navicular, cuboid, and three cuneiforms. The cuboid and cuneiforms adjoin the metatarsal bones in a firm, nearly immovable joint.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Tarsal — Tar sal, a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the tarsus (either of the foot or eye). n. A tarsal bone or cartilage; a tarsale. [1913 Webster] {Tarsal tetter} (Med.), an eruptive disease of the edges of the eyelids; a kind of bleareye. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • tarsal — ● tarsal, tarsale, tarsaux adjectif Relatif au tarse des vertébrés tétrapodes, des insectes. tarsal, ale, aux [taʀsal, o] adj. ÉTYM. 1842; de tarse. ❖ ♦ Zool. Du tarse, qui se rapporte au tarse …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • tarsal — [tär′səl] adj. [< ModL tarsus (see TARSUS) + AL] of the tarsus of the foot or the tarsi of the eyelids n. a tarsal bone or plate: see SKELETON …   English World dictionary

  • Tarsal — Tar sal, n. (Zo[ o]l.) Same as {Tercel}. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Tarsal — could refer to:*tarsus (skeleton) (skeleton) *tarsus (eyelids) (eye) …   Wikipedia

  • tarsal — Relativo o perteneciente al tarso. Diccionario Mosby Medicina, Enfermería y Ciencias de la Salud, Ediciones Hancourt, S.A. 1999 …   Diccionario médico

  • tarsal — tarsal, ale (tar sal, sa l ) adj. Le même que tarsé …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • tarsal — tarsál adj. m., pl. tarsáli; f. sg. tarsálă, pl.tarsále Trimis de siveco, 10.08.2004. Sursa: Dicţionar ortografic …   Dicționar Român

  • tarsal — 1817, from Mod.L. tarsalis, from L. tarsus (see TARSUS (Cf. tarsus)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • tarsal — Anatomy & Zoology ► ADJECTIVE ▪ relating to the tarsus. ► NOUN ▪ a bone of the tarsus …   English terms dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”