How to Pronounce Metatarsus Adductus
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Metatarsus Adductus Pronunciation
met-ah-TAR-sus ah-DUK-tus
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
met
ah
TAR
stress here
sus ah
DUK
stress here
tus
6 syllables
What is Metatarsus Adductus?
A common congenital foot deformity in which the front part of the foot (metatarsals) points inward, causing an intoeing gait in infants. Most cases resolve spontaneously by age 4, though persistent cases may require stretching or casting.
Questions About Metatarsus Adductus
How do you pronounce metatarsus adductus?
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Say it like this: met-ah-TAR-sus ah-DUK-tus. The stress falls on the second syllable of the first word (TAR) and the second syllable of the second word (DUK). Think of it as saying "meh-tuh-TAR-sus" followed by "uh-DUK-tus."
What are the syllables in metatarsus adductus?
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Metatarsus breaks into five syllables: met-a-tar-sus. Adductus breaks into three syllables: ad-duc-tus. Putting them together, you have eight syllables total: met-a-TAR-sus ad-DUK-tus.
What's a common mistake when pronouncing this term?
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Many people stress the wrong syllable and say met-uh-tar-SUS instead of met-uh-TAR-sus. Remember: the stress goes on TAR in metatarsus, not on the last syllable. The second word should be ah-DUK-tus, not ad-uh-TUS.
What do the word parts mean?
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Metatarsus comes from Greek: "meta" means beyond or after, and "tarsus" refers to the bones in the middle of the foot. Adductus comes from Latin and means "drawn toward" or "turned inward." Together, the term describes the foot bones turning inward.
What's the plain English way to say metatarsus adductus?
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You could call it an inward-turning foot or a turned-in foot. Some people use the shorter phrase "in-toe" or "in-toeing" to describe the way it affects how someone walks, though that's slightly different from the medical name.
What is the abbreviation for metatarsus adductus?
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The abbreviation is MA, which you say by spelling out the letters: M-A. Some doctors also use the abbreviation MTA, said as M-T-A.
What other medical words share the root 'metatarsus'?
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Metatarsal (met-ah-TAR-sul) is the adjective form that describes the bones themselves, as in "metatarsal bones." Metatarsalgia (met-ah-tar-SAL-juh) is a term for pain in those same bones. All three words refer to the middle foot bones.
Can you use metatarsus adductus in a sentence?
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Here's an example: "The pediatrician noted that the infant had metatarsus adductus in both feet." This sentence simply states that the condition is present, without giving any medical advice or information about what to do about it.

