végtag

Végtag, the Hungarian term for a limb, refers to the appendages of the body used for locomotion, manipulation, and interaction with the environment. In medical and anatomical usage, végtag covers both the upper limb (felső végtag) and the lower limb (alsó végtag).

Anatomy: A limb consists of segments connected by joints and enveloped by muscles, tendons, nerves, and blood vessels. The upper limb includes the shoulder girdle, arm, forearm, and hand; the lower limb includes the pelvic girdle, thigh, leg, and foot. The skeleton provides a framework of bones such as the humerus, radius, and ulna in the upper limb, and the femur, tibia, and fibula in the lower limb, with numerous joints that allow bending, rotation, and weight-bearing. Muscles produce motion and are coordinated by nerves, while arteries supply blood and nerves convey sensation and motor commands.

Development and variation: In human development, limb buds form early in the embryo, guided by signaling centers that pattern the bones and muscles. Common limb malformations include absent or shortened limbs (amelia, meromelia), extra digits (polydactyly), missing digits (ectrodactyly), and fused digits (syndactyly).

Evolution: Vertebrate limbs evolved from paired fins in lobe-finned fishes and diversified into the forelimbs and hindlimbs of tetrapods. Across species, limb bones show homologous arrangements, though their sizes and shapes adapt to functions such as grasping, walking, running, swimming, or flying.

Clinical relevance: Limb injuries, infections, and diseases affect végtag function and may require medical treatment, rehabilitation, or prosthetic devices after amputation. Advances in imaging, surgery, and rehabilitation strategies aim to restore mobility, dexterity, and independence for individuals with limb-related conditions.