Canine Phalanges - Anatomy & Physiology
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BACK TO MUSCULOSKELETAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
Bones
Metacarpals and Metatarsals
- The arrangement of the metatarsals are similar to those of the metacarpals.
- They are rod shaped bones, numbered from I to V. The 1st is the most medial and is very small, the 3rd and 4th are the longest.
- The proximal base articulates with it's corresponding carpal bone and the adjacent metacarpal.
- The distal end is it's head, which is transversely cylindrical and articulates with the proximal phalanx.
- Metacarpals II - V possess a sagittal ridge on their palmar aspects.
Phalanges
- Proximal phalanx - of the main digits (II - V) they have a concave articular surface proximally. The palmar border has a groove to accomodate the articular surface of the metacarpus when the joint is fixed. The distal head has two convex areas seperated by a groove.
- Middle phalanx - roughly two-thirds the length of the proximal, its base has a sagittal ridge on the articular surface, which articulates with the groove of the proximal phalanx. The head resembles that of the proximal.
- Distal phalanx - made up of a cone-shaped ungual process with a distinct collar, ungual crest. The deep ungual groove distal to the crest provides attachment for the proximal border of the claw. It articulates with the middle phalanx via a small sagittal crest.
- A bony sesamoid bone is found on the dorsal aspect of the metacarpophalangeal joint.
- The 'dew claw', metacarpal I, is normally present in the forelimb but often not in the hindlimb. It normally only consists two phalanges that resemble the proximal and distal ones.