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Carpal bone movements in gripping action of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 March 2001

HIDEKI ENDO ,
MOTOKI SASAKI ,
YOSHIHIRO HAYASHI ,
HIROSHI KOIE ,
YOSHIKI YAMAYA  and
JUNPEI KIMURA
HIDEKI ENDO
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, National Science Museum, Tokyo
MOTOKI SASAKI
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, National Science Museum, Tokyo
YOSHIHIRO HAYASHI
Affiliation:
Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo
HIROSHI KOIE
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Comprehensive Veterinary Clinical Studies, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, Kanagawa, Japan
YOSHIKI YAMAYA
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Comprehensive Veterinary Clinical Studies, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, Kanagawa, Japan
JUNPEI KIMURA
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, Kanagawa, Japan
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Abstract

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.

Keywords

Radial sesamoid bone
Type
Short Report
Information
The Journal of Anatomy , Volume 198 , Issue 2 , February 2001 , pp. 243 - 246
Copyright
© Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2001

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