tarsus

/ˈtɑrsəs/
noun
  1. The group of seven small bones in the human foot between the ankle and the metatarsals.
    • She felt a sharp pain in her tarsus after running the marathon.
    • The doctor examined the tarsus for any fractures after the fall.
    • In anatomy class, we learned that the tarsus includes the talus and calcaneus bones.
  2. The part of an insect's leg that is farthest from the body, usually divided into segments and ending in claws.
    • The beetle's tarsus has tiny hairs that help it grip surfaces.
    • Each leg of a grasshopper ends in a tarsus with small pads.
    • Under the microscope, the tarsus of the ant showed distinct segments.
  3. The thin plate of connective tissue that forms the framework of the eyelid.
    • Inflammation of the tarsus can cause eyelid swelling.
    • The tarsus gives the eyelid its shape and support.
    • The surgeon carefully repaired the tarsus during the eyelid surgery.