Changes

==Structures of the Distal Forelimb==

==Structures of the Distal Forelimb==

[[File:Dog hand.JPG|thumb|centre|350px|Canine Carpus, Metacapus and Phalanges, Moscow State University Department of Biology, Kirill Tsukanov, 2012]]

[[File:Dog hand.JPG|thumb|centre|350px|Canine Carpus, Metacapus and Phalanges, Moscow State University Department of Biology, Kirill Tsukanov, 2012]]

===[[Forelimb - Anatomy & Physiology#Carpal bones|Carpal Bones]]===

===Carpal Bones===

In canines the carpal bones form a complicated set of articulations and comprise of two rows; proximal and distal. In total there are seven carpal bones. Starting medially, the proximal row consists of the ''radial and intermediate'' bone (which are seperate in other species but fused in canines), the ''ulna'' bone and the ''accessory'' carpal bone. The accessory bone is essentially a bony appendage on the lateral aspect of the carpus and can be easily palpated. Each of the proximal carpal bones articulates proximally with the radius and ulna and distally with the intercarpal joints (between the proximal and distal carpal bones).   

In canines the carpal bones form a complicated set of articulations and comprise of two rows; proximal and distal. In total there are seven carpal bones. Starting medially, the proximal row consists of the ''radial and intermediate'' bone (which are seperate in other species but fused in canines), the ''ulna'' bone and the ''accessory'' carpal bone. The accessory bone is essentially a bony appendage on the lateral aspect of the carpus and can be easily palpated. Each of the proximal carpal bones articulates proximally with the radius and ulna and distally with the intercarpal joints (between the proximal and distal carpal bones).   

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===[[Forelimb - Anatomy & Physiology#Metacarpal bones|Metacarpal Bones]]===

===Metacarpal Bones===

Dogs are '''digitigrade''' animals; this means that the weightbearing surface of their limbs is their digit. The canine phalanges are thus very important. They are virtually identical in their structure in the hindlimb and forelimb. The main differences are in the forelimb we have metacarpals and the metacarpophalangeal joint, the hindlimb equivalents are the metatarsals and the metatarsophalangeal joint. Also in anatomical planes we use the term ''palmar'' for forelimb and ''plantar'' for hindlimb. These terms are all interchangeable depending on whether you want to talk about the fore or hindlimb.  

Dogs are '''digitigrade''' animals; this means that the weightbearing surface of their limbs is their digit. The canine phalanges are thus very important. They are virtually identical in their structure in the hindlimb and forelimb. The main differences are in the forelimb we have metacarpals and the metacarpophalangeal joint, the hindlimb equivalents are the metatarsals and the metatarsophalangeal joint. Also in anatomical planes we use the term ''palmar'' for forelimb and ''plantar'' for hindlimb. These terms are all interchangeable depending on whether you want to talk about the fore or hindlimb.  

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