Bone that can be dropped — NYT Mini Clue (October 21, 2025)
This clever medical clue points to ULNA, the forearm bone that commonly gets "dropped" in wrist injuries. Unlike typical anatomy clues, this one plays on medical terminology where a "dropped ulna" refers to a specific type of fracture. All apostrophes render as ' and quotation marks as " so everything stays HTML-friendly.
1 Across
Bone that can be dropped
Think about which bone gets "dropped" when you fall on your outstretched hand! The ulna, located on your forearm's pinky side, is famous in orthopedic circles for dropping down during certain wrist fractures. This medical twist makes the clue extra clever for crossword fans.
Crossing Helpers
- 2-Down UNO confirms each letter so ULNA locks in perfectly.
- 3-Down ANGUS confirms each letter so ULNA locks in perfectly.
- 4-Down LEAK confirms each letter so ULNA locks in perfectly.
Medical Insights
Bone Location
The ulna is one of two long bones in your forearm, running parallel to the radius. It's on the pinky side of your arm.
Common Injury
When you "drop your ulna," it refers to a common wrist fracture where the ulnar head gets displaced. It's a frequent injury in falls!
Medical Terminology
Doctors call the ulna the "cubitus bone" in more technical contexts. The word comes from Latin meaning "elbow."
Crossword Pattern
ULNA is crossword gold – it's four letters, contains common vowels, and appears frequently in anatomy-themed clues.