The Appendicular Skeleton

Appendicular Skeleton

Bones of the limbs, with the thoracic limb (front limb) and pelvic limb (back limb) as the correct anatomical names.

Thoracic Limbs

Front limbs.

Pelvic Limbs

Rear limbs.

Scapula

Shoulder blade, the most proximal bone of the thoracic limb, forming the shoulder joint with the humerus and featuring the glenoid cavity.

Glenoid Cavity

A cavity that connects the humerus to the scapula.

Humerus

Bone articulating with scapula, having tubercles for muscle attachment.

Tubercles

Small, rounded processes that provide the attachment for tendons and muscles.

Radius

Bone articulating with humerus, larger than ulna.

Ulna

Bone forming most of the elbow, with olecranon and anconeal processes.

Olecranon Process

Point of the elbow.

Anconeal Process

A part of the ulna which articulates with and fits into the humerus.

Carpus

Consists of small carpal bones, forming joint with radius and ulna.

Accessory Carpal Bone

A bone that sticks out caudally on an animals front limb. Makes up the carpal pad.

Metacarpal Bones

Bones extending from carpals to phalanges, varying in number among species.

Phalanges

Bones making up digits, with proximal, middle, and distal parts.

Phalanx

Singular form of phalanges.

Dew Claw

Metacarpal 1. Cats, dogs and pigs usually have these.

Cannon Bone

One large metacarpal bone in horses.

Splint Bones

The 2nd and 4th incomplete(partially fused) metacarpal bones in horses.

Coffin Bone

P3, the most distal phalanx in ruminants.

Navicular Bone

The most distal sesamoid bone of the horse and is a common source of lameness.

Sesamoid Bone

A small bone embedded in a tendon or ligament that crosses a joint.

Ungual Process

The distal end of P3, in dogs and cats that is covered by the claw.

Pelvic Limb

Also known as hindlimb, attached to pelvis supporting the limbs.

Pelvis

Composed of fused ischium, ilium, and pubis bones.

Ilium

Cranial bone with tuber sacrale and tuber coxae processes.

Tuber Sacrale

The most dorsal process of the ilium, which connects with the sacrum.

Tuber Coxae

The most cranial process of the ilium, which forms an attachment area for muscles and is also an obvious landmark.

Ischium

The most caudal bone of the pelvis containing a process called the ischiatic tuberosity.

Ischiatic Tuberocity

A major caudal process located on the ischium.

Pubis

Ventral bone joined by pubic symphysis, forming pelvic brim.

Pubic Symphysis

The cartilaginous joint in the pelvis that allows some movement to facilitate childbirth.

Pelvic Canal

Known as the birth canal, is a bony passage through which the baby must pass.

Pelvic Brim

The cranial edge of the pubic bones

Obturator Foramen

The large hole in the hipbone between the pubis and the ischium.

Coxofemoral Joint

Where the pelvis connects with the femur.

Acetabulum

The indentation or socket where femur attaches in the coxofemoral joint.

Femur

Most dorsal bone with greater trochanter, trochlear groove, and condyles.

Greater Trochanter

Located laterally to the head and neck of the femur and is an attachment site for large muscles.

Trochlear Grove

The patella(kneecap) slides on this grove during flexion & extension of the knee.

Medial and Lateral Condyles

Located on the distal ends of the femur, are bumps on either side of the femur that connect with the tibia, each condyle has a corresponding epicondyle.

Tibia

The larger bone that connects distally with femur.

Tibial Tuberosity

A large ridge on the tibia where muscles attach.

Fibula

The smaller bone connecting with tibia to the femur, located more laterally.

Tarsus

Bones similar to carpals, with the calcaneus (hock) jutting caudally.

Calcaneus

More commonly known as the hock.

Metatarsals

Bones similar to metacarpals, in the hindlimb.