title: Mobility of the forearm in the raccoon (Procyon lotor), raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) and red panda (Ailurus fulgens).
abstract: The ranges of pronation/supination of forearms in raccoons, raccoon dogs and red pandas were nondestructively examined. Three carcasses of each species were used for CT analysis, and the left forearms were scanned with a CT scanner in two positions: maximal supination and maximal pronation. Scanning data were reconstructed into three-dimensional images, cross-sectional images were extracted at the position that shows the largest area in the distal part of ulna, and then, the centroids of each cross section of the radius and ulna were detected. CT images of two positions were superimposed, by overlapping the outlines of each ulna, and then, the centroids were connected by lines to measure the angle of rotation, as an index of range of mobility. The measurements in each animal were analyzed, using the Tukey-Kramer method. The average angle of rotation was largest in raccoons and smallest in raccoon dogs, and the difference was significant. In the maximally pronated forearm of all species, the posture was almost equal to the usual grounding position with palms touching the ground. Therefore, the present results demonstrate that the forearms of raccoons can supinate to a greater degree from the grounding position with palms on the ground, as compared with those of raccoon dogs and red pandas.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, Department of Basic Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Minao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamioka
authors.forename: Motoki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Kazutaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.forename: Motoharu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oishi
authors.forename: Kazutoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yuhara
authors.forename: Sohei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tomikawa
authors.forename: Miki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
authors.forename: Tatsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oshida
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kondoh
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kitamura
mesh_terms: D053822:Ailuridae / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005552:Forelimb / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011403:Pronation / Q000502:physiology; D046031:Raccoon Dogs / Q000502:physiology*; D011821:Raccoons / Q000502:physiology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D013484:Supination / Q000502:physiology