Appendicular Skeleton and Locomotion Vocab

• aerial locomotion


  movement throught he air performed by an animal. This can be powered (gliding, etc.) or unpowerd (flapping).
• apophyses


  A bony process extending from the main body of the vertebrae.
• arboreal locomotion


  Movement of animals that have evolved to move in the trees. 
• autopodium


  Made up of three segments (from proximal to distal) the carpal bones (Basipodium), metacarpal bones (Metapodium), and the phalanges (Acropodium). 
• bicipital


  Having two origins or points of connection
• calcaneus


  The largest tarsal on the appendicular skeleton, also known as the heel bone, supports the weight of the body. The Achilles tendon, calcaneus tendon, connects the calf muscle to the heel bone for specialized locomotion like jumping or walking. 
• capitulum


  Located at the distal head of the humerus, it is rounded and protrudes outwards. Is directly articulated to the radius, contributing to the formation of the elbow.
• caracoid


  A strong bone that connects the shoulder joint to the edge of the sternum closest to the skull.
• What is the distal segment of the autopodium?

  Phalanges
• What is the proximal segment of the autopodium?

  Carpal bones
• What is the middle segment of the autopodium?

  Metacarpal bones
• carpal


  A small group of bones found in the wrist of vertebrae taxa.
• caudal fin


  The tail fin of an aquatic-animal, commonly associated with fish and marine mammals. Though it can take many shapes, it shares one key feature–a primary facilitator of forward movement. Skeletal elements of this fin can include bones such as hypurals, epurals, urneurals, principle rays, procurrent rays, and haemal spines
• ceratotrichia


  Structures made of keratin that provide structural support to the fins of certain fish species. They are essential for propulsion and stability during swimming. 
• cheiropterygium


  A limb structure found in vertebrates that has a broad, flattened shape resembling a hand or paddle. It is often used for swimming and other aquatic locomotion. 
• chiridium


  An appendage that is well developed limb with joints and has seprate didgits on the end instead of a fin. 
• clavicle


  A bone conncecting shoulders to the rest of the body keeping shoulders away from the body. Gives support to overall skeletal system.
• coracoid


  A process projecting from the scalpula that serves the important function of attachment for many different muscles, ligaments, and the clavicle. 
• crutotarsal joint


  An ankle joint that is positioned between the bones of the crus
• cursorial locomotion


  The movement of running that includes the use of digits. The adaptation of limbs to move forwards and backwards for this motion.
• digitigrade


  form of locomotion where the organism walks on their toes or digits without the back of their foot or tarsals touching the ground
• digits


  considered a finger or toe; consists of smaller bones called phalanages. The function of this structure is for grasping and manipulating objects or in some species aid in landing. 
• diphyceral tail


  Tail or caudal fin where the vertebrae/spinal column extends all the way to the tip of the tail in a symmetrical manner.
• episternal cartilage


  Is a cartilage found on the border on the manubrium which is the upper most part of the sternum
• femur


  Bone commonly referred to as the "thigh bone" and is located in the upper portion of the hind leg. The top of the the bone is connected to the hip and the bottom of the bone is connected to the knee. 
• fibula


  Lateral bone to the leg, thin and light weight but it provides places for muscles to attach. 
• fossorial locomotion


  the modified movements of animals that primarily live underground and dig
• furcula


  It is found in the collar/ shoulder area of most bird species. It assist in strengthening the thoracic skeleton and when flying it helps to be able to have more flexibility to expand shoulders. 
• homocercal tail


  Most common in caudal finned fish, it is composed of 2 lobes that have a similar proportion to each other 
• humerus


  Long bone in the forelimb that connects the scapula to the radius and ulna. Composed of three parts, the humeral, the body, and the lower extremity. The humeral connects to the scapula while the lower extremity in connected to the radius and ulna.
• ilium


  The biggest and uppermost part of the hip bones. It is also referred to as the iliac bone and is a crucial in the bones that make up the pelvic girdle.
• innominate bones


  A group of fused bones that That connect to the sacrum to form the hip bone or os coxae. The bones that are includes are ilium, ischium, and pubis bones.
• interclavicle


  A bone that is found between both clavicles and is often used for protection of vital organs. Typically found in tetrapods except Therian mammals
• ischium


  A paired bone within the pelvis which forms the lower regions of the hip bone. It's located below the ilium and behind the pubis bones.
• What are the bones that make up the innominate bones?

  Ilium, ischium, pubis
• lepitotrichia


  found in bony fishes, a row of scales that form segmented rays that support the fin and aid in movement
• manus


  the distal part of the upper limb that has metacarpals and digits (finders, toes, etc.) , such as a paw or hand.
• median fins


  Fins that are located on the midline position of the body, such as dorsal, anal, and caudal fins of fish
• mesopterygium


  The middle piece of principal basal cartilage located within the fins of a fish. It helps to maintain the shape and structure of the fin.
• metapterygium


  The innermost and posterior cartilage located in the pectoral fins of particular fishes such as sharks and rays.