Nagel R M, Forstenpointner G, Soley J T, Weissengruber G E
Institute of Topographic Anatomy, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Onderstepoort, South Africa.
Anat Histol Embryol. 2018 Jun;47(3):195-205. doi: 10.1111/ahe.12340. Epub 2018 Feb 19.
The structure of the limbs of elephants is unusual among mammals. In African elephants (Loxodonta africana, Blumenbach 1797), the front limbs serve to support the greatest part of the body mass of the largest land animal. In this study, we present new and detailed anatomical data regarding muscular and specific fascial structures of the lower front limb which were examined by means of standard anatomical and histological techniques. The muscles and tendons of the forearm (antebrachium) and hand (manus) are tightly surrounded by thick, highly elastic fascial layers which fuse with the lacertus (lac.) fibrosus and the so-called ligamentum (lig.) humeroulnare. A well-developed musculus (m.) brachioradialis occupies the proximolateral aspect of the forearm and its tendon inserts together with the lac. fibrosus on the os carpi intermedium. The lac. fibrosus, the lig. humeroulnare and the m. flexor carpi radialis reveal a large proportion of elastic fibres. These three structures may play an important role in storing strain energy thus promoting energy-saving locomotion. On the palmar aspect of the carpus, metacarpus and digits, short flexor, abductor, adductor, lumbricales and interossei muscles are present, whereas supinator muscles are absent in all specimens. The short muscles of the hand together with specific dorsal tendons enable precise movements of specific toes.
大象四肢的结构在哺乳动物中很不寻常。在非洲象（Loxodonta africana，布鲁门巴哈，1797年）中，前肢支撑着最大陆地动物身体大部分的重量。在本研究中，我们展示了有关下前肢肌肉和特定筋膜结构的新的详细解剖学数据，这些数据是通过标准解剖学和组织学技术进行检查的。前臂（前臂）和手部（手部）的肌肉和肌腱被厚厚的、高度有弹性的筋膜层紧密包围，这些筋膜层与纤维束（lac.）纤维和所谓的肱尺韧带（lig.）融合。一块发达的肱桡肌（m.）占据前臂的近端外侧，其肌腱与纤维束一起插入腕骨中间。纤维束、肱尺韧带和桡侧腕屈肌含有很大比例的弹性纤维。这三种结构可能在储存应变能方面发挥重要作用，从而促进节能运动。在腕骨、掌骨和指骨的掌侧，存在短屈肌、外展肌、内收肌、蚓状肌和骨间肌，而所有标本中均无旋后肌。手部的短肌与特定的背侧肌腱一起实现特定脚趾的精确运动。
