Skeletal System

Question 1

Forelimbs?

Answer 1

Forelimbs?

.Humerus

.Ulna & radius

.Carpal bones (knee)

.Metacarpal bone (cannon) (infront of splint)

.Metacarpal bone (splint) (behind cannon)

.Proximal sesamoid bones (back of knee)

.Distal sesamoid bones/ navicular bone (back of distal cannon)

.Proximal/ first phalanx (long pastern)

.Middle/ second phalanx (short pastern)

.Distal/ third phalanx (pedal/ coffin bone) (hoof)

Question 2

Hindlimbs?

Answer 2

Hindlimbs?

.Femur

.Patella (knee)

.Tibia & fibula

.Hock (below tibia & fibia)

.Calcaeus (behind tarsals) (point of hock)

.Talus (inbetween metatarsals bones)

.Tarsal bones - fused

.Metatarsals cannon (infront of splint)

.Metatsrsals splint (behind cannon)

.Proximal sesamoid bone (behind distal cannon)

.Distal sesamoid bone (Navicular bone) (behind pedal bone)

.Proximal/ first phalanx (long pastern)

.Middle/ second phalanx (short pastern)

.Distal/ third phalanx (pedal/ coffin bone) (hoof)

Question 3

Joints?

Answer 3

Joints?

.Where two or more bones meet.

.Fetlock

Question 4

Foot?

Answer 4

Foot?

.Starts at the distal half of the middle phalanx (short pastern) down to the distal phalanx (Pedal bone) and the distal sesamoid bone (navicular bone).

.Tissues are digital cushion & navicular bursa covered by dermis call corium.

.Hoof is a cornified layer of epidermis.

Question 5

Skull?

Answer 5

Skull?

.Protects the brain, inner ear, parts of the eyes & nasal passages.

.Lower jaw - mandible

.Upper jaw - maxilla, incisive, palatine bone, hard palate & base of nasal cavity.

Question 6

Teeth?

Answer 6

Teeth?

.Deciduous teeth -24

.Permanent teeth - males 40 - 42 and females 36 - 40

.All the same height

.They have hypsodontic teeth i.e. they don’t have a surface covering of enamel.

.Worn down by 2-3mm per year by eating

Question 7

Hoof?

Answer 7

Hoof?

.Periople, wall, bars, laminae, sole & frog.

.Under the hoof is the corium (dermis) that has blood capillaries & nerve fibres.

.The covering of the hoof is the epidermis.

Question 8

The suspensary apparatus?

Answer 8

The suspensary apparatus?

.A collection of ligaments connected with the proximal sesamoid bones in both the fore & hind limbs as follows:

.Suspensary ligament

.Intersesamoidean ligament

.Collateral sesamoidean ligament

.Distal sesamoidean ligaments

.This apparatus acts to suspend & support the fetlock joints. It prevents overextension & collapsing of the limb. This also forms part of the stay apparatus.

Question 9

The stay apparatus?

Answer 9

The stay apparatus?

.Consists of an arrangement of muscles, tendons, and ligaments in all limbs that allow the horse to stand & sleep while using minimum muscular effort.

.The apparatus locks the joints in position so that they can bear the weight of the body for long periods.

.Flexor tendons allows extension to a certain point in combination with the check ligament to take the work of standing upright away from muscles.

Question 10

Vertebrae?

Answer 10

Vertebrae?

.Cervical = 7

.Thoracic = 18

.Lumbar = 6

.Sacral = 5

.Coccygeal = 15 - 20