Pollex (Noun)
Meaning
The thick short innermost digit of the forelimb.
Classification
Nouns denoting body parts.
Examples
- Mammals, birds, and reptiles all possess a unique version of the pollex on their respective forelimbs.
- In primates, the pollex developed opposable characteristics, allowing for a wider range of manipulation and grasping abilities.
- The pollex of the hominin lineage also underwent significant changes as human ancestors adapted to bipedalism.
- The development of the human pollex is closely linked to the neoteny observed in the primate lineage.
- Some vertebrates have lost the pollex entirely throughout the course of their evolution, due to genetic mutations or adaptations to specific environments.