Forelimb

Forelimb

The forelimb is the anterior limb (arm, leg, or similar appendage) on an animal's body. In quadrupeds, it is one of the front pair of walking appendages. There are three main parts of the forelimb: the upper arm, forearm, and hand (or paw, hoof, or wing).

Anatomy of the Forelimb

The forelimb is made up of several key components, including the humerus, radius, ulna, and various smaller structures such as the carpal bones, metacarpal bones, and phalanges.

Humerus

The humerus is the bone of the upper arm or forelimb forming joints at the shoulder and the elbow.

Radius and Ulna

The radius and ulna are the two long bones located in the forearm that extend from the elbow to the wrist.

Carpal Bones

The carpal bones are the eight small bones that make up the wrist (or carpus) that connects the hand to the forearm.

Metacarpal Bones

The metacarpal bones are the five long bones in the hand, located between the carpal bones of the wrist and the phalanges of the fingers.

Phalanges

The phalanges are the bones that make up the fingers of the hand and the toes of the foot. There are 56 phalanges in the human body, with fourteen on each hand and foot.

Function of the Forelimb

The forelimb plays a crucial role in locomotion, allowing an animal to move about and interact with its environment. It also serves a variety of specialized functions depending on the species, such as grasping objects, digging, or flying.

Evolution of the Forelimb

The structure of the forelimb has evolved over millions of years to suit the needs of different species. For example, the forelimbs of a bird have evolved into wings, while those of a whale have become flippers.

See Also

• Hindlimb
• Limb development
• Limb (anatomy)

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