Hand Musculature of the Common Marmoset (Callithrix jacchus): An Anatomical Study with Reference to the Rhesus Monkey (Macaca mulatta)

The common marmoset (<i>Callithrix jacchus</i>) is a New World Monkey that frequently serves as a model in biomedical research. Our knowledge of its anatomy is the fundament of the provision of the correct environment, housing, and care together with provision of accurate medical care in the case it gets wounded. In this anatomical research article, the focus is on the hand musculature, as it plays a pivotal role in the interaction with the environment and conspecifics. Surprisingly, anatomical works on the common marmoset are scarce. The available books and atlases are either outdated in terms of illustrations, providing only simplified line drawings, and/or fail to recapitulate the anatomy of the hand using contemporary anatomical nomenclature. The present work describes the myology of the hand, based on dissections of common marmoset cadavers. Color photographs taken during the subsequent steps of the examinations lead the reader through the textual descriptions. Dorsal and palmar views of the antebrachial muscles with influence on the wrist and hand as well as the intrinsic hand musculature are scrutinized. The findings are finally discussed in view of potential contradictions with the available literature. In addition, comparison is made with the rhesus monkey (<i>Macaca mulatta</i>) whose hand musculature was recently revisited. It is concluded that the hand musculature of both species is highly similar, although remarkable differences are present. This work could serve as an anatomical foundation for medical interventions of the injured hand.