The Appendicular Skeleton

This page provides links to labled photographs of most of the bones in a bison's skeleton.

Front Limb

Scapula (SC) 2 per animal

Humerus (HM) 2 per animal

Radius-ulna (RD, and RDU) 2 per animal

Carpals (CP, CPU, CPI, CPR, CPS, CPF, CPA) there are a total of 6 carpals in each front leg

Metacarpal (MC) 2 per animal - the single metacapal is formed from the 3rd and 4th metacarpal, which in bison are fused at birth

Fifth metacarpal (MCF) 2 per animal (these are usually not bone awls)

Rear Limb

Os coxae (IM) in older animals, the two halves of the os coxae form a single pelvis

Femur (FM) 2 per animal

Tibia (TA) 2 per animal

Patella (PT) 2 per animal

Lateral malleolus (LTM) 2 per animal. This is the distal end of the fibula, and is not a tarsal.

Tarsals (AS, CL, TRC, TRS, TRF) and Sesamoids (SEP and SED) there are total of 5 tarsals in each hind leg.

Metatarsal (MT) 2 per animal the single metatarsal is formed from the 3rd and 4th metatarsal, which in bison are fused at birth

Second Metatarsal (MTS) 2 per animal

Feet

Phalanges (PHF, PHS, PHT) there are 2 first phalanges, 2 seconds, and 2 thirds in each foot (total of 8 PHF, 8 PHS, and 8 PHT in each bison skeleton)

Sesamoids (SEP and SED) there are 4 proximal sesamoid (SEP) and 2 distal sesamoids in each foot (total of 16 SEP and 8 SED in each bison skeleton)

Back to top