The zoology of the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle [vol. 1 of 5] : $b Fossil mammaliaOwen, Richard
Science
The zoology of the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle [vol. 1 of 5] : $b Fossil mammalia
Owen, Richard
Beagle Expedition (1831-1836); Mammals, Fossil; Paleontology -- South America; Zoology
The proximal end of the innermost metacarpal bone presents three
articular surfaces; the middle facet is the largest, and the two lateral
ones slope away from it at an angle of 45°. The middle facet is broad
and slightly convex in front, narrow and concave behind; the distal
articular surface of the trapezoides must have corresponded with this
surface; the outer facet is narrow, flat, extends from the fore to the
back part of the head of the bone, and must have been adapted to a
corresponding surface on the os magnum; the inner facet is the smallest,
presents a triangular form, and is situated towards the back part of the
head of the metacarpal bone; it indicates the existence of a rudimental
metacarpal bone, or vestige of a pollex. Below the outermost of the
lateral surfaces there is a crescentic articular surface with its
concavity directed outwards and downwards (fig. 2, Pl. XV.), against
which a corresponding convex articular surface of the middle metacarpal
abuts, (fig. 3, Pl. XV.) External to this surface the proximal end of
the middle metacarpal bone presents two articular surfaces for the
carpus; the larger one, which was adapted to the os magnum, is
horizontal, broad and convex before, narrow and concave behind; the
outermost facet is a small triangular surface inclined downwards to the
level of the articulating surface of the outermost metacarpal. It also
presents a posterior vertical articular surface for a sesamoid bone. The
proximal extremity of the outer metacarpal bone is joined to the middle
metacarpal, not by one semilunar surface, but by two separate
articulations of small size (fig. 4 and 5, Pl. XV.); it presents a
single large slightly convex articular surface for the os magnum, of an
irregular semicircular form, with the convexity of the curve turned
outwards.
The metacarpus increases in breadth as it approaches the phalanges; the
two lateral metacarpals bending slightly away from the middle one, and
expanding towards their distal extremities: the middle bone presents a
symmetrical figure except at its proximal extremity (fig. 2, Pl. XI.)
The distal articulating facet of each of the metacarpal bones extends so
far upon both the anterior and posterior surfaces as to describe more
than a semicircle (fig. 3, Pl. XI.); in the two lateral metacarpals it
is traversed throughout by a longitudinal convex ridge dividing it into
two equal lateral parts; the ridge is most produced on the posterior
half of the joint (fig. 4, Pl. XI.): in the middle metacarpal this ridge
subsides before it reaches the anterior part of the articular surface.
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