Panda Paws are the Bee's Knees

"Because they lack opposable thumbs, seeing giant pandas holding bamboo in their paws might make you wonder how they do it. This radiograph image of Tian Tian's paw provides a great look at the adaptation that helps pandas eat. In addition to having five well-developed digits, giant pandas have an enlarged carpal bone (called the radial sesamoid bone) that acts as a "pseudothumb." This pseudothumb opposes the first and second digits, helping pandas grasp bamboo. See a picture of a panda holding bamboo. This radial sesamoid is present in other bears, but is more developed in the giant panda.

In 2005, the Fuji Medical Systems division donated a state-of-the-art digital x-ray system that enables Zoo veterinarians to diagnose animal health problems more quickly and accurately than with conventional film-based x-ray systems. The new equipment makes examinations much quicker and easier for the Zoo's animals by producing digital images that can be manipulated to show both bone and soft tissue and to reveal injuries that may not have appeared on a film x-ray. Thanks to Fujifilm's generosity, the National Zoo is one of the first zoos in the country to employ this technology."

from the wesbite of The National Zoo

UPDATE: I still reserve the right to despise pandas and their 'cuddly-wuddly' portrayal in the media