Concept
Version 8
Created by Boundless
Limits on Animal Size and Shape
Apodemes
Apodemes are ingrowths on arthropod exoskeletons to which muscles attach. The apodemes on this crab leg are located above and below the fulcrum of the claw. Contraction of muscles attached to the apodemes pulls the claw closed.
Source
Boundless vets and curates high-quality, openly licensed content from around the Internet. This particular resource used the following sources:
"OpenStax College, Animal Form and Function. October 17, 2013."
http://cnx.org/content/m44730/latest/Figure_33_01_02.jpg
OpenStax CNX
CC BY 3.0.