Gliedmaßen

Gliedmaßen, meaning limbs in German, refers to the appendages of an animal's body that are used for locomotion or manipulation. In vertebrates, this typically includes arms and legs. The basic structure of tetrapod (four-limbed vertebrate) limbs is highly conserved, consisting of a single bone in the upper part (humerus in the forelimb, femur in the hindlimb), followed by two bones in the lower part (radius and ulna, tibia and fibula), then a series of small bones in the wrist or ankle (carpals/tarsals), followed by the hand or foot bones (metacarpals/metatarsals), and finally the digits (phalanges).

The development of limbs is a complex process orchestrated by genetic programs during embryonic development. Specific signaling pathways and gene expressions guide the formation of these structures from limb buds. Evolutionary adaptations have led to a vast diversity of limb forms and functions across different species. For instance, the fins of fish, the wings of birds and bats, and the flippers of marine mammals are all modified limbs that have evolved for specific environments and modes of life. In humans, the forelimbs have been adapted for dexterity and tool use, while the hindlimbs are primarily for bipedal locomotion. The study of Gliedmaßen is fundamental to understanding comparative anatomy, biomechanics, and evolutionary biology.