Tarsale

Tarsale is a term that is not part of standard modern English medical vocabulary and is mostly encountered in historical texts, transliterations, or Latin-based forms. In such contexts, it is typically linked to the tarsus, the cluster of bones that forms the back part of the foot and the hind part of the ankle in humans and many vertebrates. The common English terms are tarsal (adjective) and tarsus (noun for the bone group).

The tarsal bones number seven in the typical human foot: the calcaneus (heel bone), talus (ankle bone), navicular, cuboid, and the three cuneiforms (medial, intermediate, and lateral). These bones count as the tarsus and work together with the metatarsals to support weight, create the foot’s arches, and enable a range of movements such as standing, walking, and running. In anatomy texts, the word tarsal is preferred for describing the bones or their joint relations, while tarsus denotes the whole bone group.

Etymologically, tarsale likely derives from the Latin tarsalis, meaning “of the tarsus,” with tarsale appearing as a variant or Latinized form in some sources. Modern usage tends to favor tarsal and tarsus, and tarsale is rarely used except in historical or linguistic notes. Related terms include tarsus, tarsal bones, and the tarsal joints.