Premium
Carpal bone movements in gripping action of the giant panda ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca )
Author(s) -
ENDO HIDEKI,
SASAKI MOTOKI,
HAYASHI YOSHIHIRO,
KOIE HIROSHI,
YAMAYA YOSHIKI,
KIMURA JUNPEI
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of anatomy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.932
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1469-7580
pISSN - 0021-8782
DOI - 10.1046/j.1469-7580.2001.19820243.x
Subject(s) - anatomy , carpal bones , wrist , forearm , sesamoid bone , carpal joint , biology , computer science , radiography , medicine , radiology
The movement of the carpal bones in gripping was clarified in the giant panda ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca ) by means of macroscopic anatomy, computed tomography (CT) and related 3‐dimensional (3‐D) volume rendering techniques. In the gripping action, 3‐D CT images demonstrated that the radial and 4th carpal bones largely rotate or flex to the radial and ulnar sides respectively. This indicates that these carpal bones on both sides enable the panda to flex the palm from the forearm and to grasp objects by the manipulation mechanism that includes the radial sesamoid. In the macroscopic observations, we found that the smooth articulation surfaces are enlarged between the radial carpal and the radius on the radial side, and between the 4th and ulnar carpals on the ulnar side. The panda skilfully grasps using a double pincer‐like apparatus with the huge radial sesamoid and accessory carpal.