The Vertebrate SkeletonReynolds, Sidney H. (Sidney Hugh)
Science
The Vertebrate Skeleton
Reynolds, Sidney H. (Sidney Hugh)
Skeleton
In the Pinnipedia the arm bones are very strongly developed. The
humerus has a very prominent deltoid ridge, and the proximal end of
the ulna and distal end of the radius are much expanded.
In the INSECTIVORA the arm bones are well developed, and the radius
and ulna, though sometimes united, are generally distinct; as a rule
there is an ent-epicondylar foramen, but this is absent in the
Hedgehog. The Mole has an extraordinary humerus, very short and
curved, and much flattened and expanded at both ends. It articulates
both with the scapula and coraco-clavicle. The ulna has a greatly
developed olecranon.
In the CHIROPTERA both humerus and radius are exceedingly long and
slender; the ulna is reduced to little more than the proximal end and
is fused to the radius. There is no ent-epicondylar foramen.
All PRIMATES have the power of pronation and supination of the
fore-arm, by the rotation of the distal end of the radius round that
of the ulna.
In Man and the Anthropoid Apes the humerus is long and straight, and
has a globular head; neither of the tuberosities, nor the deltoid nor
supinator ridges are much developed. The olecranon fossa is deep and
there is no ent-epicondylar foramen. The radius is curved and has a
narrow proximal, and expanded distal end, the ulna is straighter than
the radius and has the distal end much smaller than the proximal; the
olecranon is not much developed.
In the lower Primates, although the radius and ulna are always quite
separate, the power of pronation and supination is not nearly so great
as in the higher forms. In most of the Cebidae and Lemurs an
ent-epicondylar foramen occurs.
THE MANUS.
The Manus is divisible into two parts, viz. the carpus or wrist, and
the hand which is composed of the metacarpals and phalanges. The
carpal bones are always modified from their primitive arrangement,
sometimes more, sometimes less. One modification however is always
found in mammals, viz. the union of carpalia, 4 and 5 to form the
_unciform_ bone. Two sesamoid bones are commonly developed, one on
each side of the carpus, the _pisiform_ or one on the ulnar side being
much the larger and more constant: it has been suggested that these
represent respectively vestiges of a prepollex and a post-minimus
digit[172].
One or more of the five digits commonly present may be lost, and
sometimes all are lost except the third. The terminal or ungual
phalanges of the digits are commonly specially modified to support
nails, claws, or hoofs. There are as a rule two small sesamoid bones
developed on the ventral or flexor side of the metacarpo-phalangeal
articulations, and sometimes similar bones occur on the dorsal or
extensor side.
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