TARSUS

(Lat.), n. m. Tasrs'u3s(us). Gr., rapo-ds (lit, any broad, flat surface). Fr., tarse. Ger., T., Fu wurzel (1st def.). 1. The bony structure constituting the greater part of the arch of the foot, consisting of the os calcis, the astragalus, the scaphoid bone, the cuboid bone, and the three cuneiform bones. 2. In birds, see TARSOMETATARSUS. 3. The so-called cartilage of the eyelid (tarsal cartilage), which forms the skeleton or support of the lid. It is properly only dense connective ti ue, interspersed with numerous elliptical nuclei. The one in the upper lid is much thicker, broader, and denser than that in the lower lid. Its shape is crescentic, with the ciliary border sharply cut off. The tarsi become thinned toward the orbital margin, and finally merge in a fascia, which is firmly attached to the orbital margin. The tarsus contains the Meibomian glands. [F.] T. palpebral is. See T. (3d def.). [s. 596]