Manus (anatomy)
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This article relies largely or entirely upon a single source. Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources. Discussion about the problems with the sole source used may be found on the talk page. (December 2010) |
The manus (Latin for hand) is the zoological term for the distal portion of the fore limb of an animal. In tetrapods, it is the part of the pentadactyl limb that includes the metacarpals and digits (phalanges). During evolution, it has taken many forms and served a variety of functions. It can be represented by the hand of primates, the lower front limb of hoofed animals or the fore paw and is represented in the wing of birds, bats and prehistoric flying reptiles (pterosaurs), the flipper of marine mammals and the 'paddle' of extinct marine reptiles, such as plesiosaurs and ichthyosaurs.
In cephalopods, the manus is the end, broader part of a tentacle or arm, and its suckers are often larger and arranged differently than those on the rest of the arm.
[edit] References
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This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (December 2010) |
- Prof. R.L.Kotpal (2009). Modern Text Book of Zoology: Vertebrates. Rastogi Publications. ISBN 8171338917. http://books.google.com/books?id=U7N1j-8LMsEC&pg=PA277&dq=Manus+%28zoology%29&hl=en&ei=HLAUTcfVFMSblgeputDgCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CFIQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=Manus&f=false.
[edit] See also
- Pes (anatomy) – the distal portion of the hind limb of tetrapod animals
