THE MANUS. 



[CHAP. 



The metacarpals and phalanges have each a main nucleus 

 for the greater part of the bone, and usually an epiphysis at 

 one end only, this being the distal end of the metacarpals 

 (except the first), and the proximal end of the first meta- 

 carpal and of all the phalanges. In many of the Cetacea 

 epiphyses are found at both ends of the bones, and the 

 same takes place regularly in the Elephant Seal (Macro- 

 rhinus leoninus), and occasionally in some other Mammals. 1 



f-i 



FIG. 91. Bones of the right human carpus, J. s scaphoid ; / lunar ; c cuneiform ; 

 tin trapezium ; td trapezoid ; in magnum ; it unciform ; / pisiform ; i v the 

 metacarpals. 



In Man the carpus (see Fig. 91) is short and broad. Its 

 upper border, by which it articulates with the radius, forms 

 a regular curve, with the convexity upwards. It has the 

 three bones of the proximal row the scaphoid (s), lunar 

 (/), and cuneiform (c) distinct ; also the usual four bones 

 of the distal row, but no central. 2 There is a well-developed 



1 The first phalanx of the Horse's toe has a distal epiphysis, which 

 unites to the shaft at a much earlier period than that at the proximal 

 end. See Struthers "Brit. Assoc. Report, 1885." 



2 The os cenlrale carpi has been found in the cartilaginous stage in 

 the embryo, but disappears early, although in rare cases it persists in 

 the adult as a separate bone. See E. Rosenberg, " Morphol. Jahrb. '' 

 I. p. 172. H. Leboucq, " Acad. Roy. Belg." 3rd ser. torn. iv. 1882. 

 W. Gruber, " Beobachtungen aus der menschlichen unct vergleichenden 

 Anatomic," IV. Heft. Berlin, 1883. 



