Hindlimb Anatomy: Bones

Question 1

describe the hind limb

Answer 1

supports 40% of weight

majority of forward impetus for locomotion

attached to axial skeleton at sacrum

Question 2

What are the bones of the hind limb

Answer 2

○ Pelvic girdle (pelvis)
○ Femur
○ Patella
○ Tibia and fibula
○ Tarsal bones
○ Metatarsals
○ Sesamoids
○ Phalanges

Question 3

What is the difference between pelvic girdle vs. pelvis

Answer 3

○ Pelvic girdle = ilium, pubis, ischium
○ Pelvis = pelvic girdle + sacrum + first few coccygeal vertebrae

Question 4

What are the parts of the pelvic girdle

Answer 4

○ Ilium
§ Lateral wall
○ Pubis
§ Cranial wall
○ Ischium
§ Caudal ventral wall
○ Acetabulum
§ Formed by three bones, articulates with femur

Question 5

What is palpable on the pelvis?

Answer 5

○ Tuber sacrale
○ Tuber coxae
○ Tuber ischiae
○ Rectal exam

Question 6

What are the pelvic girdle articulations?

Answer 6

○ Sacroiliac
§ SI joint
○ Coxofemoral
§ Hip joint

Question 7

Describe the femur

Answer 7

○ Most massive long bone
○ Protected by muscle
○ Articulations
§ Coxofemoral
□ Hip joint
§ Femoropatellar
§ Femorotibial
□ Stifle joint

Question 8

Describe the patella

Answer 8

○ Sesamoid bone
§ Diamond shaped
○ Medial and lateral trochlear ridges of femur
§ Glides up and down
§ Rests on top
○ Patellar ligaments
§ Medial, intermediate, and lateral
§ Femoropatellar ligaments

Question 9

describe the tibia and fibula

Answer 9

○ Solidly attacked (syndesmosis)
§ Fused in adult
○ Tibia
§ Carries all the weight
○ Fibula
§ Ends halfway down tibia on lateral side
○ Articulations
§ Femorotibial
□ Stifle joint
§ Tibiotarsal
□ Tarsocrural joint

Question 10

Describe the tarsus

Answer 10

○ AKAK hock
○ 6 bones
○ 3 rows
○ 4 joints

Question 11

Describe the tarsal bones

Answer 11

○ Proximal row, medial to lateral
§ Talus 3
§ Calcaneus 2
○ Middle row, medial to lateral
§ Central tarsal 4
§ Fourth tarsal = T4^5
○ Distal row, medial to lateral
§ Fused first tarsal and second tarsal (T1+2)
§ Third tarsal = T3^6
§ T4^5

Question 12

Describe the calcaneus

Answer 12

○ Two parts
§ Tuber calcanei (lateral)
□ Point of hock
□ Gastrocnemius and SDFT attach
§ Sustentaculum tali (medial)
□ Part of DDFT glides over
○ Proximal to central tarsal and T4

Question 13

Describe the talus

Answer 13

○ More medial
○ Medial and lateral trochlear ridges
§ Lateral has “beak”
§ Angled laterally
○ Proximal to central tarsal

Question 14

Describe the central and fourth tarsal bones

Answer 14

○ Central tarsal
§ Medial
§ Proximal to T1+2 and T3
○ Fourth tarsal (T4)
§ Lateral
§ Two rows high
§ Proximal to MTIII and MTIV

Question 15

Describe the T1+2 and T3 Tarsal bones

Answer 15

○ T1+2
§ Plantar medial
□ Plantar to T3
□ Proximal to MTII
○ T3
§ Medial
□ Proximal to MTIII

Question 16

Describe the tarsal articulations

Answer 16

○ Tibiotarsal
§ Tarsocrural joint
○ Proximal intertarsal
○ Distal intertarsal
○ Tarsometatarsal

Question 17

Describe the metatarsals

Answer 17

○ Metatarsal 3 = cannon bone = MTIII
§ 1/6th longer than metacarpal III (~2 inches)
§ Round cross section
○ Metatarsal 2 = medial splint bone = MTII
○ Metatarsal 4 = lateral splint bone = MTIV
○ Hind limb splint bones
§ Slightly larger than forelimb
§ MTIV more massive proximally

Question 18

Describe the parts of the distal hindlimb

Answer 18

○ PI
§ Slightly shorter, wider proximally, narrow distally
○ PII
§ Longer, narrower
○ PIII
§ Narrower
○ Proximal sesamoids
§ Smaller
○ Distal sesamoid
§ Shorter, narrower

Question 19

make sure to study the bones on the hindlimb