Tar″sus (?), n.; pl.Tarsi (#). [NL., fr. Gr. � the flat of the foot, the edge of the eyelid. Cf. 2d Tarse.] 1. (Anat.) (a) The ankle; the bones or cartilages of the part of the foot between the metatarsus and the leg, consisting in man of seven short bones. (b) A plate of dense connective tissue or cartilage in the eyelid of man and many animals; — called also tarsal cartilage, and tarsal plate.
2. (Zoöl.) The foot of an insect or a crustacean. It usually consists of form two to five joints.