long bone

noun

: any of the elongated bones supporting a vertebrate limb and consisting of an essentially cylindrical shaft that contains bone marrow and ends in enlarged heads for articulation with other bones compare diaphysis, epiphysis

Examples of long bone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Breaks in long bones, like the femur in your thigh, can be relatively straightforward to repair with a rod. —Lydia Denworth, Scientific American, 18 Feb. 2025

In addition to clubbing, this condition can cause new bone growth at the end of long bones, such as the tibia (the long bone of the lower leg). —Mark Gurarie, Health, 14 Feb. 2025

These high-confidence marks were located on four tibiae, one mandible, one humerus, and two long bone fragments. —Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 23 Jan. 2025

It's caused by excess pressure on the long bones in the forefoot, which are called metatarsals.21 21. —Christopher Bergland, Verywell Health, 17 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1697, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

long bone

noun

: one of the bones supporting a limb of a vertebrate and consisting of a long nearly cylinder-shaped shaft that contains bone marrow and has enlarged ends

Medical Definition

long bone

noun

: any of the elongated bones supporting a vertebrate limb and consisting of an essentially cylindrical shaft that contains bone marrow and ends in enlarged heads for articulation with other bones