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tarsus

Origin: NL, fr. Gr. The flat of the foot, the edge of the eyelid. Cf. 2d Tarse.

1. (Science: anatomy) The ankle; the bones or cartilages of the part of the foot between the metatarsus and the leg, consisting in man of seven short bones. A plate of dense connective tissue or cartilage in the eyelid of man and many animals.

Synonym: tarsal cartilage, and tarsal plate.

2. (Science: zoology) The foot of an insect or a crustacean. It usually consists of form two to five joints.