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

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

The fossil specimen included a partial skull, four vertebrae from the mid-back, one long bone and two of the pterodactyloid's teeth—remains that exhibit several characteristics that indicate the creature is a pterodactyloid. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024

The humerus is the long bone in the upper arm that extends from your shoulder to your elbow joint. —Maggie Aime, Msn, Health, 6 Dec. 2024

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