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Related Concept Videos

Muscles of the Forearm that Move the Hand and Fingers01:16

Muscles of the Forearm that Move the Hand and Fingers

The muscles of the forearm that move the wrist, hand, and digits are numerous and diverse. They can be classified into two groups based on their location and function — the anterior and posterior compartment muscles.
Anterior Compartment
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The upper and lower limb initially develops as a small bulge called a limb bud, which appears on the lateral side of the early embryo. The upper limb bud appears near the end of the fourth week of development, with the lower limb bud appearing shortly after.
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Bones of the Upper Limb: Radius01:09

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The radius is longer of the two bones that make up the human antebrachium or forearm. At the proximal end, the radius articulates with the capitulum of the humerus and the radial notch of the ulna to form the elbow joint. At the distal end, the radius articulates with the ulna via the ulnar notch, forming the distal radioulnar joint. Distally, the radius also attaches to the carpal wrist bones (scaphoid and lunate) to form the radiocarpal joint.
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Circumventing the polydactyly 'constraint': the mole's 'thumb'.

Christian Mitgutsch1, Michael K Richardson, Rafael Jiménez

  • 1Paläontologisches Institut und Museum, Universität Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.

Biology Letters
|July 15, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Talpid moles possess unique wrist bones that integrate into their digits during development. This evolutionary adaptation allows moles to bypass the standard five-digit constraint, showcasing novel developmental pathways.

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Area of Science:

  • Developmental biology
  • Evolutionary morphology
  • Comparative anatomy

Background:

  • Talpid moles exhibit a unique radial sesamoid bone anterior to their digits, unlike their closest relatives, shrews.
  • This anatomical feature is consistently observed across talpid moles on northern continents.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the developmental mechanism behind the large radial sesamoid bone in talpid moles.
  • To compare limb development in moles and shrews to understand the evolution of this unique trait.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized molecular markers (Sox9, Msx2, Fgf8) during limb development in the Iberian mole (Talpa occidentalis) and the shrew (Cryptotis parva).
  • Analyzed the timing and spatial expression of key developmental genes in both species.

Main Results:

  • The mole's radial sesamoid develops later than true digits, influenced by Sox9 and an Msx2-domain.
  • Fgf8 expression, indicative of the apical ectodermal ridge, was comparable between moles and shrews.
  • The radial sesamoid develops within the digital area, suggesting recruitment into the digit series.

Conclusions:

  • Talpid moles circumvent pentadactyly by recruiting wrist sesamoids into the digital region.
  • A novel developmental pathway and altered timing are responsible for integrating these sesamoids into the digit series.
  • This evolutionary strategy allows moles to develop more than the typical five digits.