Corpus: Extremity
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This text has been translated by an AI and may sound raw. It will be reviewed shortly. Thank you for your patience!
from Latin: extremus - the outermost
Synonyms: extremitas, membrum, limb
English:
Definition[Bearbeiten]
The term limb' refers to the limbs of the animal organism, in humans the arm as the upper limb and the leg as the lower limb. The ends of the extremities are called acres.
In a broader sense, the ends of an organ or a bone are also referred to as "extremities".
Classification[Bearbeiten]
...by half of the body[Bearbeiten]
- Upper limb: Limb of the upper half of the body
- Lower limb: Limb of the lower half of the body
In the case of quadrupeds, the term anterior limb (forelimb) and posterior limb (hind limb) is used accordingly.
...according to mobility[Bearbeiten]
In both extremities, a distinction is made between the limb girdle ("cingulum"), which is fixed to the trunk, and the "free" limb ("pars libera"), i.e. the actual movable part. This results in the following classification:
- Upper extremity
- Cingulum membri superioris (shoulder girdle)
- Pars libera membri superioris (arm)
- Lower extremity
- Cingulum membri inferioris (pelvic girdle)
- Pars libera membri inferioris (leg)
...by section[Bearbeiten]
Both extremities can be further divided into different sections from proximal to distal:
- Zonoskeleton (shoulder girdle, pelvic girdle - corresponds to the cingula)
- Stylopodium (upper arm, thigh)
- Zeugopodium (forearm, lower leg)
- Autopodium (hand, foot)
- Basipodium (carpus, tarsus)
- Metapodium (metacarpus, metatarsus)
- Acropodium (fingers, toes)