The basic skeletal systems of all animals are structurally similar, apart from the functional differences. In the case of a chimpanzee, the bone structure is similar to that of a human being. Chimpanzee belongs to the Hominidae Family, which includes apes, gorillas, and human beings. Here are a few simple steps to draw the skeleton of a standing chimpanzee.
•The Skull: Considering the profile, one can draw the cranium by making an oval with the front portion tilted down. The lower portion of the oval should be given a square shape to resemble the jaw. Draw a gap in the frontal area and create sharp teeth like structures in the gap. The canines should be large and fang like. Draw two hollow spots resembling eye sockets.
•The Spinal Column: The spinal column can be divided into four parts: Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar, and Sacrum Vertebrae. Draw a vertical curved line from the end of the skull. Double the line and create spike like structure to give it a spinal cord effect. At the end of the line, extend it a little to give it a tapered look, creating the tailbone (sacrum vertebrae). The length of the spinal column should be in proportion to the size of the desired figure.
•Rib Cage: The initial part of the spinal cord is the cervical vertebrae or the neck bone, which is a little more than half the length of the head. After the neck bone is the Thoracic bone, which is almost half the size of the entire column. Below the thoracic, make an oval double the size of the head and create 13 ribs in the oval to resemble the rib cage.
•Forelimbs: From the end of the cervical vertebrae, draw an elongated triangle with smooth edges forming the shoulder blade of the chimpanzee. This is known as the scapula. From the end of the scapula, create a long vertical bone, Humerus. Below the Humerus, draw two thin bones joined at both the ends. One is the Radius and the other is the Ulna. At the end of the bones, create a hand like structure with bone formation as the palm and five fingers. Repeat the entire structure in the front of the forelimb just created for the second hand.
•Pelvic Girdle: Just below the lumbar vertebrae, draw an elongated circle with two holes in it. Through the holes above, emerge the hind limbs.
•Hind Limbs: Draw a tilted vertical bone like structure from the pelvic girdle. Give the bone, a rounded edge. This is the femur. Below the femur, draw two thin bones joined at the ends. One bone is thicker than the other one. The thicker one is the tibia and the thinner one is the fibula. Below the two bones, create a thin small rectangular shaped bone that resembles the base of the feet and then draw long toe like structures to resemble the feet (five toes). Repeat the structure for the second leg.