What does metacarpal mean?
Metacarpal is an anatomical term referring to the bones between the wrist and fingers or between the ankle and toes. In the hand, the five metacarpal bones form the structural framework of the palm, with each finger connecting to one of them. The word is commonly used in medical and anatomical descriptions, especially when discussing fractures, joints, surgery, and the bones of the hand. As an adjective, metacarpal describes anything connected with these bones; as a noun, it names an individual bone in the group. The related adjective carpal refers instead to the wrist bones, so the distinction is useful when identifying the precise location of an injury or describing the anatomy of the hand.
Relating to the metacarpus, the bones between the wrist and fingers or between the ankle and toes.
"The scan showed a small metacarpal fracture."
Most often used with “bones,” “fracture,” “joint,” or another anatomical noun.
One of the bones in the metacarpus of the hand or foot.
"The second metacarpal extends from the wrist to the index finger."
The plural is metacarpals; the term is most often used in anatomical and medical contexts.
The plural is used when referring to several bones in the hand or foot.
"The metacarpals form the bony framework of the palm."
Your five fingers rest on five metacarpal bones: the familiar fan of bones that forms the palm of the hand.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does metacarpal come from?
The word comes from Latin metacarpus, formed from Greek meta- “after, beyond” and karpos “wrist,” originally referring to the part beyond the wrist. English later adapted the Latin form into metacarpal, meaning “of or relating to the metacarpus.” The same Greek root karpos underlies carpal, carpus, and carpometacarpal, all referring to the wrist or the wrist region.
Related word forms
How metacarpal is actually used
In anatomy, the term is normally used attributively, as in “metacarpal bones” or “metacarpal fracture.” In the hand, it refers specifically to the five bones forming the palm; in the foot, the analogous bones lie between the ankle and toes.
Easily confused with metacarpal
Metacarpal refers to the bones in the palm between the wrist and fingers, while carpal refers to the wrist bones between the forearm and the hand.