Non-sagittal movements of shank and foot in some marsupials

Abstract

Tracings of an in vivo opossum X-ray, displaying shank and foot, confirm that collum fibulae and spatium interosseum cruris are reliable landmarks to describe the non-sagittal hind-limb movements. Only since recently, quantitative measurements in higher primates, e.g. man, allow extrapolating these data to bipedal gait. In man, after take-off, just a short distinct foot eversion helps to clear the foot from the surface, mainly during the onset of sway.