It may not seem like a question for a movie, but scientifically speaking, how are Wolverine’s bones structured to enable him to fight effectively while still performing everyday tasks?
Wolverine was born human with a unique mutant ability. His body retains a typical “animal structure,” meaning it can be examined through the lens of anatomy.
So, the question arises: assuming that his claws are actual bones that overlap within his forearm, can he move his arm as freely as a normal person?
To solve this mystery, let’s take a closer look at the structure of his bones.
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How His Structural Bones Manage To Control The Claws
Wolverine’s claws have become iconic within the Marvel Universe, both in comic pages and movies. But did you know that his claws weren’t originally designed to be perfect from the start?
Originally, Wolverine’s claws were intended to emerge from his gloves or somewhere from his upper wrists, not his knuckles, which was less anatomically accurate.
However, things changed. Later versions of Wolverine, including those in movies, presented a more interesting concept: the claws are part of Wolverine’s structural bones in his forearms.
Now, the claws were moved slightly lower and closer to the palm to enhance anatomical accuracy.
Besides, Wolverine’s claws are fully retractable bone claws that are slightly shorter than the rest of his forearm. This allows him to bend his arm when they are retracted.
Despite the introduction of Adamantium replacing his natural bone claws, the fact remains: his claws, regardless of their composition, are part of the bones in his forearm.
These claws operate on command, extending and retracting in response to his body’s signals, much like flexing your fingers.
What makes this possible? Smaller muscles in his forearms allow for precise control due to their fewer muscle fibers and a lower innervation ratio.
Additionally, Wolverine’s unique ligament structure connects these muscles to the bones, facilitating dynamic movements.
Thus, each movement is finely tuned; each claw connects independently to forearm bones, enabling Wolverine to control them with remarkable accuracy.
So, whenever he engages in a fight, Wolverine tightens his fist to activate the forearm muscles and extend the claws.
Then, relaxing these muscles retracts the claws back into a resting position within the forearm.
Can He Use The Claws Freely Like He Does With His Fingers?
The answer is no. While Wolverine’s claws are perfectly integrated into his body, there is a significant constraint: he cannot move his wrists when the claws are extended.
To extract the claws, he must keep his wrists straight to ensure the alignment of his knuckles and claws.
This alignment, along with specific muscle contractions, allows for smooth claw movement. To prevent damage during extension, Wolverine must maintain this wrist position.
An interesting detail from the issue 11st of the 2015 series “Wolverines,” which occurs in the aftermath of Wolverine’s death and its impact on his closest associates, highlights this.
The storyline reveals that Logan, notably impaired by alcohol, struggles to deploy his claws in his typically stylish manner at a bar.
Instead of keeping his wrist straight, he mistakenly extends his claws from the underside of his wrist, similar to Spider-Man. The gruesome visual underscores the gory mistake, enough to unsettle readers.
Thus, unlike typical bone structures, Wolverine’s ability to move his arms and wrists is severely restricted once the claws are activated.
However, there is still another limitation inherent in Wolverine’s claw structure that seems to be easily overlooked.
Can Wolverine Twist His Wrist Normally?
While it’s clear that Wolverine’s forearm bone structure requires a certain restraint, it’s also interesting to note that he cannot twist his wrists when his claws are retracted.
Firstly, let’s understand how the bone structure in our forearm functions when twisting the wrist. The forearm contains 2 bones: the radius and the ulna.
When you twist your wrist, the radius rotates around the ulna, allowing your hand to move from palm-down to palm-up positions.
In Wolverine’s case, his forearm bones, particularly the ulna and radius, are shaped to provide enough space for his claws to retract.
When the ulna and radius cross over, theoretically, Wolverine’s claws should bend with the bones, although his claws are known to be extremely hard.
Assuming that the claws do bend with the bones, this arrangement could make it difficult for Logan to twist his wrist, potentially rendering him unable to do so.
Moreover, such movements would likely be uncomfortable due to the three bones confined within the forearm.
On the other hand, once his claws are extended, he can twist to admire his impressive steel claws—just remember to keep your wrist straight, pal!
Anyway, at this point, there are 2 distinct theories:
- Wolverine’s bone structure is still a plot hole and remains anatomically implausible.
- Wolverine is secretly struggling to deal with twisting his arm on a daily basis.
What do you guys think? Is there any explanation or alternate theory on whether Wolverine could twist his wrists? Share your thoughts!