Manus (anatomy)

Manus of a rodent, Eurasian hamster Cricetus cricetus.

The manus (Latin for hand) is the zoological term for the distal portion of the fore limb of an animal. In tetrapods, it is the part of the pentadactyl limb that includes the metacarpals and digits (phalanges). During evolution, it has taken many forms and served a variety of functions. It can be represented by the hand of primates, the lower front limb of hoofed animals or the fore paw and is represented in the wing of birds, bats and prehistoric flying reptiles (pterosaurs), the flipper of marine mammals and the 'paddle' of extinct marine reptiles, such as plesiosaurs and ichthyosaurs.

In cephalopods, the manus is the end, broader part of a tentacle or arm, and its suckers are often larger and arranged differently from those on the rest of the arm.^[1]

See also

• Pes (anatomy) – the distal portion of the hind limb of tetrapod animals

References

Cephalopod anatomy
Shell	Shell types External shells: Ammonoid shell Argonautid eggcase Nautiloid shell Orthocone Internal shells: Belemnoid guard Cirrate shell Cuttlebone Gladius (pen) Spirula shell Stylet External features Aperture Apex Callus Lirae Periostracum Sculpture Spire Sutures Umbilicus Internal features Body chamber Camerae Nacre Phragmocone Septa Siphuncle Whorls
Mantle	External anatomy Funnel Dermal structures Fins (wings) Mantle locking-apparatus Internal anatomy Branchial hearts Ctenidia (gills) Hepatopancreas (digestive gland) Ink sac and ink Needham's sac Nephridia ("kidneys") Nidamental glands Osphradium Pericardial glands
Head and limbs	Brachial crown Arms Hectocotylus Tentacles Buccal region Aptychus Beak Odontophore Radula Spadix and antispadix Other parts Eyes Statocysts
General	Chromatophores Photophores Nervous system Squid giant axon Squid giant synapse
Developmental stages: Spawn → Paralarva (Doratopsis stage) → Juvenile → Subadult → Adult • Egg fossils • Protoconch (embryonic shell)