Manus

Manus is the fourth segment of forelimb/thoracic limb. It consists of three segments;

1. Carpus: consists of carpal bones

2. Metacarpus: consists of metacarpal bones
3. Digit/digits: consists of phalanges and sesamoid bones

General plan for Carpus (in domestic animals and birds)

• A group of carpal bones are known as carpus.

• Carpus is the first segment of manus.
• Carpus consists of number of bones ranging from two to eight carpal bones in domestic
animals and birds.
• These bones are arranged in two rows; i.e., proximal row and distal row.
• The proximal row consists of two to four carpal bones and are arranged from medial to
lateral as radial, intermediate, ulnar, and accessory carpal.
• The distal row consists of zero to four carpal bones and are arranged in the same manner
as first, second, third, and fourth carpal.
• In case of fowl, the carpus consists of two bones, the radial and ulnar in the proximal
row as mammals. During fetal life the distal row of carpus is present which exist
as cartilaginous bodies that fuse with the metacarpus as carpo-metacarpus.

Carpus (ox)

• It is the first section of the manus and consists of six short bones, arranged
in two rows; proximal and distal.
• The bones of carpus are arranged between the radius-ulna above and metacarpal bones
below.
• The bones of the proximal row (from medial to lateral) are: radial carpal, intermediate
carpal, ulnar carpal, and accessory carpal.
• Bones of the distal row are: second & third fused carpal and fourth carpal.
 • The first carpal bone at the distal row is absent in cattle BUT present in pig, dog, rabbit
and occasionally present in horse.

Carpals of Proximal Row

RADIAL CARPAL:

Shape: It is small, and somewhat compressed transversely.

Location: It is medial bone of the proximal row.
Relation/Articulation:
• Proximally: the radius.
• Distally: the second & third fused carpal.
• Laterally: the intermediate carpal
• Medially: free.
Composition: It presents SIX surfaces of which THREE are articular
1. Proximal Surface: Articulates with medial facet on distal extremity of the radius.
2. Distal Surface: Articulate with proximal surface of second and third fused carpal bone.
3. Lateral Surface: Articulate with the medial surface of the intermediate carpal.
4. Anterior, Medial and Posterior Surface: are continuous, rough and non-articular.

INTERMEDIATE CARPAL:

Shape: It is somewhat wedge shaped, being constricted in the middle and wider palmarly.
Location: It is second and the central bone of the proximal row of the carpus.
Relation/Articulation:
• Proximally- the radius.
• Distally- the second + third fused carpal and fourth carpal.
• Laterally- the ulnar carpal.
• Medially- the radial carpal.
Composition: It presents SIX surfaces of which FOUR are articular
1. Proximal Surface: Articulated with the middle facet on the distal extremity of the radius.
2. Distal Surface: Articulates with the 2nd & 3rd fused carpal bone and 4th carpal bone.
3. Medial Surface: Articulation with the radial carpal.
4. Lateral Surface: articulate with medial surface of the ulnar carpal.
5. Anterior Surface and Posterior Surface: non-articular

ULNAR CARPAL:

Shape: It is large and very irregular bone.

Location: The ulnar carpal is the outermost bone, situated lateral to the intermediate carpal.
Relation/Articulation:
• Proximally- ulnar carpal articulates with the radius and the styloid process of ulna.
• Distally- the fourth carpal.
• Medially- the intermediate carpal.
• Posteriorly- the accessory carpal.

Composition: It presents SIX surfaces of which FOUR are articular

 1. Proximal Surface: It articulates with the lateral facet on the distal extremity of the radius
and styloid process of the ulna.
2. Distal Surface: Articulates with proximal surface of the 4th carpal.
3. Medial Surface: Articulates with the intermediate carpal.
4. Posterior Surface: Articulates with the accessory carpal.
5. Anterior and Lateral surfaces: They are non-articular, continuous and rough.

ACCESSORY CARPAL

• It is short, thick, rounded piece of bone.

• It is placed behind the ulnar carpal.
• Its anterior surface has an oval concave facet for articulation with ulnar carpal.
• The medial surface is concave while lateral is convex.
• This bone articulates with the ulnar carpal anteriorly.

Carpals of Distal Row

The First Carpal bone is absent in cattle. The distal row consists second and third fused carpal
(medially) and the fourth carpal (laterally).

SECOND AND THIRD FUSED CARPAL

Shape: The second and third carpal bones are fused to form a large quadrilateral bone. It is larger
than fourth carpal.
Location: Situated medially at the distal row.
Relation/Articulation:
Proximally- Articulates with the radial and intermediate carpal.
Distally- Articulates with large metacarpal
Laterally- Articulates with fourth carpal bone.
Medially- free.
Composition: It has SIX surfaces of which THREE are articular
 1. Proximal surface: articulates with the distal surface of the radial carpal and intermediate
carpal bone.
2. Lateral surface: Articulates with medial surface of the 4th carpal bone.
3. Distal surface: Articulates with the large metacarpal bone.
4. Anterior and medial surfaces: are non-articular, continuous and rough.
5. Posterior surface: is narrow and non-articular.

Fourth Carpal

Shape: It is smaller quadrilateral bone of distal row. It is thicker in front than behind.
Location: It is located laterally at the distal row.
Relation/Articulation:
• Proximally: Articulates with ulnar carpal and intermediate carpal.
• Distally: Large metacarpal.
• Medially: Second and third fused carpal bone.
• Laterally: Free.
Composition: It has SIX surfaces of which THREE are articular
1. Proximal surface: Articulates with intermediate carpal and ulnar carpal.
2. Distal surface: It articulates with the proximal extremity of the large metacarpal bone.
3. Medial surface: Articulates with the 2nd and 3rd fused carpal bone.
4. Lateral surface, Anterior surface and Posterior surface: They are non- articular.
COMPARISON WITH OTHER ANIMALS
A. Carpal bones of Horse:

• Consists of 7 bones, 4 in the proximal row and

3 in the distal row. Sometimes eight bones are
present, when the first carpal is added.
• Bones in the proximal row are larger, more
regular and shape resembles with the bones of
ox.
• The radial carpal is the largest of the proximal
row which is somewhat compressed and
clearly six sided.
• The intermediate carpal is
somewhat wedge shaped which bears a
concave facet proximally for articulation with
the radius.
• The ulnar carpal is smallest and most irregular
bone of proximal row.
• The accessory carpal is flat, discoid and has a
regular circumference.
• The first carpal bone is nodular when present
and is placed behind the second carpal.
• The second carpal bone is the medial bone of
the distal row and is irregularly hemispherical.
It articulates distally with the 2nd and
3rd metacarpal bones.
• The third carpal is the largest of the distal row,
and is placed centrally. It is flattened proximo-
distally. It articulates distally with
3rd metacarpal bone.
• The fourth carpal bone is larger than second
carpal bone and bears a tubercle posteriorly. It
is somewhat wedge shaped. It is the lateral
bone of the distal row and articulates with 3rd and 4th metacarpal bones.
B. Carpal bones of pig:

• The carpus comprises eight bones, four in each row.

• The bones of the proximal row resemble those of the ox, with exception of the accessory,
which is more like that of the horse, but has no lateral groove.
• The 1st carpal is small, elongated, rounded and articulates in front with second carpal.
• The 2nd carpal is high and narrow, and articulates with 2nd & 3rd metacarpal bones
distally.
• The 3rd carpal articulates with the radial and intermediate above, the third metacarpal
bone below.
• The 4th carpal is the largest bone of the row; articulates with the intermediate and ulnar
above, the 4th & 5th metacarpals below.
C. Carpal bones of Dog:

• Carpus consists of 7 bones, 3 in the proximal row and 4 in the distal row.
• The radial and intermediate carpal bones are fused to form a single bone, and articulate
distally with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd carpal bones of distal row.
• The ulnar carpal bone is small and distally articulates with the 4th carpal and extends
downwards to articulate with the 5th metacarpal.
• The accessory carpal bone is cylindrical, being constricted in the middle and has two
facets on its anterior extremity, one for the ulna and other for ulnar carpal.
• The 1st carpal bone is smallest and articulates distally with the first metacarpal bone.
• The 2nd carpal bone is wedge shaped and articulates distally with the second metacarpal
bone.
• The 3rd carpal bone is similar to the 2nd, but larger, and articulates distally with the
3rd metacarpal.
• The 4th carpal bone is the largest and articulates with 4th and 5th metacarpal bones.
D. Carpal bones of Goat:

• The carpal bones resemble those of the ox except in size.

• The accessory is long and less tuberous.
E) Carpals of rabbit
– There are 8 carpal bones- 3 in proximal row and 5 in distal row.
– Proximal row carpals are radial, intermediate and ulnar.
– Distal row carpals are 1st, 2nd, 3rd, central and 4th and 5th fused.

Radial carpal Intermediate carpal Ulnar carpal

1st carpal 2nd carpal 3rd carpal Central 4th + 5th

carpal carpal

E) Carpal bones of fowl:

• There are 2 bones: – Radial and Ulnar carpal at the proximal row.
• The bones the distal row is fused with the metacarpal bones.