Monday, May 17, 2010

Bird and Pterosaur Carpus (2)

BIRD CARPUS (WRIST)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpus
"The wing of a modern bird, for example, has only two remaining carpals; the radiale (the scaphoid of mammals) and a bone formed from the fusion of four of the distal carpals.[14]"


Modern Bird Carpus (diagram on the left)

Description: "Fore-limb and hind-limb compared. H., Humerus; R., radius; U., ulna; r., radiale; u., ulnare; C., distal carpals united to carpo-metacarpus; CC., the whole carpal region; MC.I., metacarpal of the thumb; I., phalanx of the thumb; MC.II., second metacarpus; II., second digit; MC.III., third metacarpus; III., third digit. F., femur; T.T., tibio-tarsus; Fi., fibula; Pt., proximal tarsals united to lower end of tibia; dt., distal tarsals united to upper end of tarso-metatarsus (T.MT.); T., entire tarsal region; MT.I., first metatarsal, free; I.-IV., toes."

To put this in perspective here is a human carpus (wrist):


BONES OF HAND (from radial) (both images are of the right hand)
Proximal: A=Scaphoid, B=Lunate, C=Triquetral, D=Pisiform
Distal: E=Trapezium, F=Trapezoid, G=Capitate, H=Hamate
1= Radius, 2=Ulna, 3=Metacarpals
Posterior and anterior view of a human carpus


http://www.port.ac.uk/special/pterosaurs/pterosaurs/thepterosaurwing/

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