Metacarpal bones Greek form μετακάρπιος. "Metacarpalis", as in "ossa metacarpalia" in the current official Latin nomenclature, "Terminologia Anatomica" is a compound consisting of Latin and Greek parts. The usage of such hybrids in anatomic Latin is disapproved by some. Metacarpal bones In human anatomy, the metacarpal bones or metacarpus, form the intermediate part of the skeletal hand located between the phalanges of the fingers and the carpal bones of the wrist which forms the connection to the forearm. The metacarpal bones are equivalent to the metatarsal bones in the foot. The metacarpals form a transverse arch to which the rigid row of
Vancleavea parts of the hand. The second metacarpal is longer, and the third and fourth are tied for the longest bones of the hand. Unguals (claws) have not been found, and the rounded ends of certain phalanges indicates that "Vancleavea" likely did not possess them. As with other reptiles, each hip of "Vancleavea" is formed by three plate-like bones: the illium (above the hip socket), the pubis (in front of the hip socket), and the ischium (behind the hip socket). The illium of "Vancleavea" is particularly unusual. Most archosauriforms have illia which are somewhat low, directed from front to back (anteroposteriorly).