Anatomy of the Joints in the Hamadryas Baboon (Papio hamadryas)-Part 1: Thoracic Limb

Awareness regarding the welfare of captive baboons is rising. Consequently, the best possible medical care is offered to injured animals. To this purpose, knowledge of the species-specific anatomy is a prerequisite. However, detailed anatomical reference works on this species, such as overviews or atlases, are sparse. The existing anatomical literature is scattered in often outdated works or elaborates on a specific detail. Veterinarians responsible for the medical care of captive baboons, therefore, habitually rely on human anatomical atlases. As overviews of the baboon joint morphology are particularly sparse, this first study in a series of three aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the arthrology of the thoracic limb of the hamadryas baboon (Papio hamadryas). The several synovial joints present in the shoulder region, elbow region, and hand are included. Not only the typical connective tissue elements that form the joints but also the associated muscle tendons are depicted. The osseous structures to which these components attach are identified as well. Standard veterinary terminology is used, complemented by human anatomical nomenclature where the former falls short. High-resolution color photographs support the text, allowing this work to serve not only as a dissection guide for veterinary and academic use but also as a baseline for clinical medical care and future research in primate morphology and biomechanics.