THORACIC LIMB Distinct acromion
Has no bony connection to the trunk Dog NO coracoid and glenoid notch
Only attached by muscles (synsarcosis) Narrow scapular cartilage
Bones of the Thoracic Limb Distinctly triangular
a. Scapula Cattle Unequal fossae (supra is smaller than
b. Humerus infra)
c. Radius and Ulna NO notch in glenoid cavity
d. Carpals Broad scapular cartilage
e. Metacarpals
f. Digits Sheep NO coracoid process
SCAPULA /shoulder blade/ Spin fades distally
In all animals: flat rectangular bone Unequal fossae (supra is smaller than
Horse infra)
Prominent spine = lateral surface
o Divided into 2: NO acromion
Supraspinous fossa Trapezius tubercle is present
Infraspinous fossa Broad scapular cartilage
Acromion or Hamate process = distal
Glenoid cavity = shallow articular socket where it Rhomboid shape
forms the shoulder joint with the head of the humerus NO acromion
Pig Prominent trapezius tubercle overhanging
Supraglenoid tubercle = process near the cranial
aspect of glenoid cavity for the attachment of the infraspinous fossa
biceps brachii muscle Narrow scapular cartilage
Distinctly triangular
Cat Suprahamate process is present
NOTES:
Narrow scapular cartilage – a cartilaginous
structure on the dorsal border of the scapula
Coracoid process – small process on the medial side
of the supraglenoid tubercle for the attachment of
coracobrachialis muscle
Suprahamate process – caudal projection of the
acromion only found in cats
CATTLE
HORSE PIG
DOG
RABBIT CAT
CLAVICLE /collar bone/
Animal Scapula Separate, non-articulating bone seen radiographically
and found only in cats among quadrupeds
Spine bisects lateral surface
Can be mistaken for a bone in the esophagus on b. Intertubercular groove (bicipital groove) – the sulcus
lateral radiograph between the greater and lesser tubercle, through which the
Birds and primates tendon of biceps brachii runs.
o possess a clavicle which forms a joint with c. Greater tubercle – large process craniolateral to the head
the scapula to which muscles can attach. This is the point of the
In most quadrupeds shoulder. It is divided into cranial and caudal parts in
o scapula is represented only by a clavicular ungulates.
tendon = a rudimentary structure embedded d. Lesser tubercle – process medial to the head
in brachiocephalic muscles of dogs e. Body or shaft – cylindrical parts connecting the
Furcula or wishbone = are fused clavicles epiphyses
f. Deltoid tuberosity – a large tuberosity on the lateral side
Coracoid = in birds which is a separate bone in
of the humerus
addition to the scapula and clavicle
g. Humeral condyle – entire distal extremity of the
humerus.
h. Lateral epicondyle – lateral side of the humeral condyle,
giving rise to the extensors of the forearm. (extensor
epicondyle)
i. Medial epicondyle – medial side of the humeral condyle,
for the attachments of flexors of the forearm. (flexors
epicondyle)
j. Olecranon fossa – caudal excavation receiving the
proximal end of the ulna on extension of the elbow.
k. Radial fossa – excavation opposite of the olecranon fossa
receiving the proximal end of the ulna on flexion of the
elbow.
HUMERUS /brachium/ Animal Humerus
Long bone forming the upper forelimb
Radial and olecranon fossae communicate
a. Head – rounded process articulating with the scapula’s through supratrochlear foramen
solenoid cavity to form the shoulder joint. Dog Greater tubercle is divided into cranial and
caudal
a. Olecranon – proximal end of the ulna that forms the
Massive lateral tuberosity overhangs point of the elbow
Cattle bicipital groove b. Trochlear notch (semilunar notch) – in front of the
Intertubercular groove is divided by a low- olecranon that articulates with the distal humerus
sagittal ridge c. Anconeal process – at the top of trochlear notch that
Greater tubercle is divided into cranial and is a beak-like projection
caudal d. Lateral styloid process – ulna narrows distally to
this point
Intertubercular tubercle = present in
bicipital groove RADIUS = a rod-like bone
Horse a. Fovea capitis – is the depression at the proximal end
Greater tubercle is divided into cranial and
which articulates with the humerus.
caudal
b. Medial styloid process – at the distal end of the
radius
Lateral tuberosity almost converts bicipital
groove into foramen
Pig Single = intertubercular groove Interosseus space – space between the ulna and the radius.
Greater tubercle is divided into cranial and This is readily seen in carnivores and in pigs
caudal
Undivided greater tubercle Animal Radius and Ulna
Cat Supracondylar foramen is present
Coronoid fossa is present Dog Ulna is not fused with radius
Ulna is longer than radius
Ulna complete = projects distally beyond
NOTES: Cattle the radius as the styloid process
Supratrochlear foramen – found only in dogs but Ulna is longer than radius
sometimes in pigs. Nothing passes through it.
Intertubercular tubercle – found at the bicipital Sheep Ulna is not necessarily fused
groove
Extremely slender
Suprecondylar foramen – found only in cats. It is
an opening in the medial epicondyle. Median nerves
Ulna fused almost 2/3 way down the shaft
and brachial vessels pass through it. Medial to the
of radius
radial fossa for medial coronoid process of the ulna
Horse Radius is longer than ulna
on the flexion of the elbow
Ulna is massive and articulates with the
Pig/Porcin radius and ulnar carpal
e Ulna is longer than radius
Avian Ulna is longer than radius
The horse has proximal interosseous space while the
ruminant has proximal and distal ones.
CARPAL BONES
RADIUS AND ULNA /antebrachium/ Complex region that includes 2 rows of small
Radius = medial bones
o The main weight-bearing bone Radial, intermediate, ulnar – proximal row
Ulna = lateral (medial to lateral)
o Only for muscle attachment Numbered 1 to 4 – distal row (medial to lateral)
An accessory carpal bone = projects caudally
ULNA from the lateral side of the carpus
Animal Metacarpals
Metacarpals (1~5)
All metacarpals bear digits
Dog Digit 1 = possess only 2 phalanges
(middle is missing)
Metacarpals 3 & 4 = fused and weight
bearing called cannon bone
Ruminant 5th = vestigial
1st and 2nd = missing
3rd metacarpal = the only functional
Horse (cannon bone)
Carpal Dog Horse Cattle Pig
bone 2nd and 4th (splint bones) = vestigial
Radial P P P P
Intermediat A P P P Metacarpal (2~5)
e Pig All metacarpals bear digits
Ulnar P P P P 3rd and 4th = functional
Accessory P P P P
1 P A A P Distal row of carpal bones = fused with
2 P P P P
the proximal end of metacarpals and
3 P P P P
Avian termed carpometacarpal bone which are
4 P P P P
TOTAL 7 7 6 8
3
NOTES:
Radial carpal bone in dogs = regarded as fused
radial and intermediate carpal bones
Intermediate bone is absent in dogs
Trapezium or 1 is absent in horse and cattle
Pigs have a complete carpal bone
The following are other names that can be used:
CATTLE
a. Radial – Scaphoid
b. Ulnar – Lunar bone
c. Trapezium – 1
d. Trapezoideum – 2
e. Capitatum – 3
f. Hamatum – 4
HORSE AND
GOAT
METACARPALS
Distal to the carpus
Mammalian manus = 5 digits, 3 phalanges
Distal sesamoid bone is called navicular
bone
4 digits, 2 weight bearing digits (3rd + 4th)
2 non weight bearing digits (2nd + 5th)
Pig 1st digit = missing
Digit one = 2 phalanges
Digit two = 3 phalanges
Chicken Digit three = 4 phalanges
Digit four = 5 phalanges
NOTE: In mammals, each digit has 2 proximal and 1 distal
sesamoid bones.
DIGITS
Are numbered from 1-5 from medial to lateral
Each complete digit = made up of 3 phalanges:
o Proximal phalanx
o Middle phalanx
o Distal phalanx
Ruminants
o Proximal phalanx is called long pastern
bone
o Medial phalanx corresponds to the short
pastern bone
o Distal phalanx is called the coffin bone
Dewclaw or paradigit – digit not bearing weight
Animal Digits
4 main weight bearing digits
1st digit and 1st metacarpal bone =
Dog dewclaw
Some breeds have double dewclaws
4 digits, 2 weight-bearing digits (3rd + 4th)
Ruminant 2 non-weight bearing digits = 2nd + 5th
1st digit = missing
3rd digit only
o Long pastern, short pastern,
Horse coffin bone
