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Canine Forelimb - Anatomy & Physiology (view source)

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===Metacarpal bones===

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The number of metacarpals varies widely among species, as the demand for their function changes: '''plantigrade''', or flat-footed, animals requiring the full complement of five metacarpal bones; the number is reduced in ~~the upright stature of '''digitigrade''' animals such as the dog and cat, and shows the extreme~~ in ~~'''unguligrades''' like~~ the ~~horse, who depends entirely on the third metacarpal bone for its stature~~.

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These are covered in detail in the [[Canine Phalanges - Anatomy & Physiology|canine phalanges]] section.

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*Colloquially, the third metacarpal of the horse is known as the '''canon''' bone, and the vestigial 2 and 4 as '''splint bones'''

==Joints of the Distal Forelimb==

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