metacarpus

noun

meta·​car·​pus ˌme-tə-ˈkär-pəs 

: the part of the hand or forefoot that contains the metacarpals

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1676, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

metacarpus

noun

meta·​car·​pus ˌmet-ə-ˈkär-pəs 

: the part of the human hand or the front foot in quadrupeds between the carpus and the phalanges that contains five more or less elongated bones when all the digits are present (as in humans) but is modified in many animals by the loss or reduction of some bones or the fusing of adjacent bones