The Vertebrate SkeletonReynolds, Sidney H. (Sidney Hugh)
Science
The Vertebrate Skeleton
Reynolds, Sidney H. (Sidney Hugh)
Skeleton
In the CETACEA the arm bones are very short and thick. The humerus has
a globular head, and a distal end terminated by two equal flattened
surfaces to which the radius and ulna are united. There is no
bicipital groove, and the tuberosities coalesce. The radius and ulna
are flat expanded bones fixed parallel to one another, but the ulna
has a definite olecranon. Scarcely any movement can take place between
them and the humerus, and in old animals the three bones are often
ankylosed together.
In the UNGULATA VERA the humerus is stout and rather short. The great
tuberosity is always large and often overhangs the bicipital groove,
it is especially large in _Titanotherium_ (_Brontops_). There is never
an ent-epicondylar foramen. The radius is always large at both ends,
but the condition of the ulna is very variable. Sometimes, as in
_Tapirus_, _Rhinoceros_, _Macrauchenia_, Suina and Tragulina, the ulna
is well developed, and quite distinct from the radius; but in most
forms, although complete, it is much reduced distally, and is fused to
the radius. Sometimes, as in the Horse and Giraffe, it is reduced to
the olecranon and to a very slender descending process which does not
nearly reach the carpus. In the Tylopoda, though the ulna is complete
and its distal end is often distinct, it has coalesced with the radius
throughout its whole length; the olecranon is generally very large.
SUBUNGULATA. In the large Condylarthra the humerus has an
ent-epicondylar foramen, and the radius and ulna are stout bones
nearly equal in size.
In _Procavia_ the humerus is rather long, and has a very prominent
greater tuberosity, and a large supra-trochlear fossa, but no
ent-epicondylar foramen.
In the Proboscidea the humerus is marked by a greatly developed
supinator ridge, and is very long, longer than the radius and ulna.
The ulna has a remarkable development, having its distal end larger
than that of the radius, it has also a larger articular surface for
the humerus than has the radius.
In RODENTIA the humerus varies much in its development according to
the animal's mode of life. In the Hares it is long and straight, with
a small distal end, and a slight deltoid ridge. In the Beaver on the
other hand the deltoid and supinator ridges are considerably
developed. There is generally a large supra-trochlear fossa, but no
ent-epicondylar foramen.
CARNIVORA. In the Carnivora vera the humerus has large tuberosities, a
prominent deltoid ridge and a deep olecranon fossa. The shaft is
generally curved, and an ent-epicondylar foramen is often found,
though not in the Canidae, Hyaenidae, and Ursidae. The radius and ulna
are never united. The radius (fig. 77, B) has a very similar
development throughout its whole length, while the ulna has a large
olecranon (fig. 77, C, 11) and a shaft tapering somewhat towards the
distal end.
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