Where does “metatarsophalangeal” come from?
Metatarsophalangeal is a modern English anatomical term combining metatarsal and phalangeal, both derived from Greek phalanx meaning a bone of the finger or toe.
metatarsophalangeal (English): Relating to the metatarsus and phalange
Definitions
- Relating to the metatarsus and phalange
Ancestry of “metatarsophalangeal”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | phalangeal | Relating to a phalanx; Relating to a phalange; A... |
| 2 | Latin | phalanx | phalanx, battalion |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | φάλαγξ | line of battle, battle-array; ranks of an army;... |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰelǵ- | to balk, beam |