Joints of the Pelvic Limb Flashcards
Flexor Surfaces
Sacroiliac Joint
- Connection of the sacrum and the wing of the illium
- Stability joint, NOT MOVEMENT
- Articular surfaces are united by fibrocartilage (hyaline cartilage)
- Dorsal sacroiliac ligament
- Ventral sacroiliac ligament
- Ligaments reinforce the joint
Sacrotuberous Ligament
(Dogs)
- Collagenous cord
- Inserts on ischiatic tuberosity
- Origin of several muscles
Large animals = Sacrosciatic ligament
Coxofemoral Joint (Hip Joint)
- Ball and socket joint
- Flexion and extension movements
- Opposed action from medial and lateral rotator muscles limits movement
- Joint capsule
- Neck of the femur to acetabular lip
- Ligament of the femoral head
- Short, thick band of collagenous tissue
- Covered by a synovial membrane
- Acetabular attachment blends slightly with the transverse acetabular ligament
Transverse acetabular ligament
- Connects the femur to the acetabulum
- Ventrocaudal aspect of the acetabulum
- Thick band of collagenous tissue
Attachments:
(O): Acetabular fossa
(I): Fovea capitis
Sacrosciatic Ligament
(Large Animals Only)
Collagenous cord
Inserts on ischiatic tuberosity
Origin of several muscles
Equivalent of the Sacrotuberous ligament in dogs
Accessory Ligament of the Femur
(Horses)
Detached from the prepubic ligament
Inserts close to the ligament of the femoral head
Restricts the way that a horse kicks
Coxofemoral Joint
- Transverse acetabular ligament
- Small, thick, collagenous band
- Extends across the acetabular notch
- Continues as the Acetabular lip
- Forms a fibrocartilaginous border around the acetabulum
Stifle Joint Sacs
“The Knee”
Composed of 3 joint sacs that communicate with eachother:
- 2 Femorotibial joint sacs
- Medial and Lateral Femorotibial Joint Sac
- Between femoral and tibial condyles
- Extend caudally to incorporate the articulation of the gastrocnemius sesamoids (fabellae)
- Lateral continues dorsally through extensor groove as the tendon sheath for the long digital extensor
- Around the tendon of origin of popliteus m.
- Medial and Lateral Femorotibial Joint Sac
- 1 Femoropatellar joint sac
- Beneath the patella
Hip Luxation
Most commonly luxated joint in dogs
Dislocation of the hip joint
- Displacement of the head of the femur from the acetabular socket
Result of trauma or severe hip dysplasia
Patellar Ligament
(Stifle Joint)
- Attaches the patella to the tibial tuberosity (sits there)
- Tendon of insertion for quadriceps femoris m.
Infrapatellar fat pad:
- Protective cushion between patella and tibia
Infrapatellar fat pad
(Stifle Joint)
Protective cushion between patella and tibia
Radiograph of the Stifle Joint
Patellar Luxation
Patella is dislocated
- Moves out of its normal location when the knee is flexed
- Dog will have a problem bearing weight
- Does not seem very painful
Caused by:
- Shallow trochlear groove (most common)
- Patellar ligament attachment (not at center)
Common in small and toy breed dogs
Surgery depends on severity
- Happens once in awhile- pop back in
- Happens all the time - deepen trochlear groove
Patellar Ligaments of the Large Animal
(3)
(Stifle Joint)
3 Patellar Ligaments (Dog has 1)
- Lateral patellar ligament
- Medial patellar ligament
- Right behind the medial trochlear ridge
- Middle patellar ligament
Important part of the stay apparatus in the horse
Femoropatellar ligaments (2)
(Stifle Joint)
- Medial femoropatellar ligament
- Lateral femoropatellar ligament
- Extend from the patella to the sesamoids of the gastrocnemius m.
- aka fabellae
Meniscus
(Stifle Joint)
- Semilunar fibrocartilage
- “C” shape
- Between each femoral condyle and corresponding tibial condyle
- Medial meniscus
- Attached to the medial collateral ligament
- Only moves slightly when the stifle is flexed
- Lateral meniscus
- Medial meniscus
- Compensate for the difference between the femur and the tibia
- Cushioning between bones
- Prevent grinding
- Each attaches to intercondylar areas of the tibia via:
- Cranial & caudal meniscotibial ligaments
- Transverse ligament
Cranial Meniscotibial Ligament
Caudal Meniscotibial Ligament
(Stifle Joint)
Each attaches to the corresponding intercondylar areas of the tibia
- Cranial goes cranial
- Caudal goes caudal
Image shows a top-down view
Transverse ligament
(Stifle Joint)
Connects the cranial ends of the menisci to eachother
- Medial and lateral menisci
Meniscofemoral ligament
(Stifle Joint)
Attaches the caudal part of the lateral meniscus to the intercondylar fossa of the femur
Cranial Cruciate Ligament
Caudal Cruciate Ligament
(Stifle Joint)
Pass between intercondylar areas of the tibia and femur
Cross eachother near their attachments in the intercondylar fossa of the femur
Cranial cruciate ligament:
- (O): intercondylar fossa of the femur
- (I): Caudomedial part of the lateral condyle
- Keeps the tibia from sliding cranially when bearing weight
- Prevents tibia from shooting forward
- Limits medial rotation when flexed
Caudal cruciate ligament:
- (O): Proximal intercondylar fossa of the femur
- (I): Medial edge of the popliteal notch of the tibia, behind the caudal attachment of the medial meniscus
- Prevents caudal movement of the tibia while bearing weight
Ruptured Cranial Cruciate Ligament
(Stifle Joint)
Most common knee injury in dogs
- Sudden rear leg lameness
Tibia won’t budge unless you have a ruptured cruciate ligament
- Cranial drawer sign
- Stabilize the femur
- Manipulate the tibia with the other hand
- Tibia movement towards cranial cruciate ligament = ruptured
- Usually need to sedate to do properly
- Can’t have the dog tense - won’t see tear
- Tibial thrust
* Less reliable
Multiple surgical repair techniques
- Lateral suture stabilization
- TPLO
- Change the angle of the femur
Femorotibial ligaments
Medial collateral ligament
Lateral collateral ligament
(Stifle Joint)
Medial collateral ligament
- (O): Medial epicondyle of the femur
- (I): Medial side of tibia (distal condyle)
- Fuses with the lateral aspect of the medial meniscus
Lateral collateral ligament
- (O): Lateral epicondyle of the femur
- (I): Head of the fibula
- Extends over the tendon of origin popliteus m.
- Keeps the stifle from moving side-to-side
Tarsal Joint
(aka “the Hock”)
(4 Major Joints)
Tarsocrural joint
Proximal intertarsal joint
Distal intertarsal joint
Tarsometatarsal joints
- Numerous articulations for each
- Numerous joint sacs
Medial and lateral collateral ligaments occur at the tarsal joint
Tarsocrural joint
(Tarsal Joint)
Joint with the greatest amount of movement
- Between the cochlea of the tibia and the trochlea of the talus
Hinge joint
Tarsocrural joint sac:
- Largest
- Has 4 pouches
- Important for the horse!
- Will palpate
Proximal intertarsal joint
(Tarsal Joint)
Distal intertarsal joint
(Tarsal Joint)
Tarsometatarsal joint
(Tarsal Joint)
Pouches of the Tarsocrural Joint Capsule
(Horse)
(Tarsal Joint)
Access points = weak part of joint sacs
- Distension
- Feel like “squishes”
Dorsomedial Pouch:
- Largest access point
- Preferred site for puncture
- Medial malleolus
- Peroneus tertius m.
- Cunean tendon
- Medial collateral ligament
Medial Plantar Pouch:
- Between medical collateral ligament and deep digital flexor tendon
- @ level of medial malleolus
Dorsolateral Pouch:(#2)
- Dorsal to the lateral collateral ligament
- Between long digital extensor tendon and lateral digital extensor tendon
- Proximal to the short digital extensor tendon
Lateral Plantar Pouch:
- Between calcaneus talus and lateral malleolus of the tibia
Tarsal Tunnel
(Tarsal Joint)
Borders:
- Sustentaculum tali dorsally
- Calcanean tuber laterally
- Caudal covered by the flexor retinaculum
Things that pass through this tunnel:
Lateral digital flexor tendon m.
Medial plantar n.
Lateral plantar n.
Caudal branch of Saphenous a.
Metatarsophalangeal Joint
aka- “The Fetlock”
Similiar to the forelimb
Joints 2-5 always represented
- Metatarsophalangeal joint 1 typically absent, if dewclaw (digit 1) is absent
- Hinge joints
- Supported by collateral ligaments
- Each has a pair of proximal sesamoid bones
Flexor Manica
(Metatarsophalangeal Joint)
Picture is of a horse flexor manica
Location of attachment of superficial digital flexor m.
- Superficial digital flexor m. goes to the proximal plantar aspect of middle phalanges digits 2-5
Deep digital flexor m. passes through & goes to distal phalanges
Dewclaw removal
Onychectomy
Removal of P3 (third phalanx)
Elective surgery
Recommended to be done when cats are at a young age
Less homeless and euthanized cats- pro
con- more painful as you get older
