Ossified meniscus and cyamo-fabella in some fossil sloths: A morpho-functional interpretation

Rodolfo Salas, François Pujos, Christian de Muizon

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

An articulated skeleton of Thalassocnus natans (Xenarthra: Nothrotheriidae) and a review of some other fossil sloths provide new information on sesamoid bones located at the knee joint. A sesamoid bone and an ossified meniscus have been identified at this joint. The cyamo-fabella (posterior sesamoid of the tibio-femoral articulation) of T. natans may act like a pulley through which the tendon of the m. gastrocnemius would have passed. The ossified meniscus, which is also present in Megatheriidae and Mylodontidae, could be related to the pedolateral stance and a large rotation of the knee joint during locomotion.
Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)389-394
Number of pages6
JournalGeobios
Volume38
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 May 2005

Keywords

  • Functional anatomy
  • Knee joint
  • Megatheriidae
  • Mylodontidae
  • Nothrotheriidae
  • Ossified meniscus
  • Sesamoid bones

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