Practical 4 - Canine Hindlimb Dissection

What is the origin & insertion of the iliopsoas?

origin - lumbar vertebrae

insertion - lesser trochanter of femur

Where does the iliopsoas lie at its insertion?

between pectineus medially and rectus femoris laterally

What effect does contraction have on the iliopsoas?

hip flexion

Where does the superficial gluteal lie?

caudal to middle gluteal

In what direction to the fibres of the superficial gluteal run?

distally

What is the origin & insertion of the superficial gluteal?

origin - deep gluteal fascia covering middle gluteal & sacrum & first caudal vertebrae

insertion - level of greater trochanter of femur

What effect does contraction have on the superficial gluteal muscle?

hip extension

What is the main artery into the hindlimb?

femoral artery

What is the fascia lata?

long, triangular sheet of tough fascia on the lateral surface of the proximal hindlimb

Where does the fascia lata attach?

Tensor fascia lata (TFL)

Where is the Tensor fascia lata (TFL)?

thigh (between sartorius cranially, middle gluteal caudodorsally & quadriceps distomedially)

Where does the Tensor fascia lata (TFL) insert?

via fascia lata on lateral limb

What is the largest muscle on the lateral proximal hindlimb?

biceps femoris

What is the origin & insertion of the biceps femoris?

origin - sacrotuberous ligament & ischiatic tuberosity

insertion - fascia lata & calcaneal tuber

Where do the hamstrings lie?

in parallel along caudal border of thigh

Where is the sciatic nerve seen between (when you cut the biceps femoris at its origin & reflect it craniodorsally)?

between biceps femoris & semitendinosus

Where is the popliteal lymph node?

within fat caudal to stifle

What is much of the superficial medial surface of the proximal hindlimb covered cranially by?

2 straplike heads of Sartorius

What is much of the superficial medial surface of the proximal hindlimb covered caudally by?

broad Gracilis mucle

What muscles lie between the Sartorius muscle and Gracilis muscle?

• adductor

• pectineus

What do the Adductor and Pectineus muscles form the 2 sides of?

femoral triangle

What does the femoral triangle contain?

femoral artery

Where is Gracilis? (where does Gracilis arise from?)

thick flat symphysial tendon

What covers the Adductor?

aponeurosis of gracilis

What is the Adductor muscle?

large pyramidal muscle compressed between semimembranosus & pectineus

What is Pectineus?

small, spindle shaped muscle that lies between the adductor (caudally) and vastus medialis (cranially)

What action do gracilis, adductor and pectineus have?

adduction of limb

What is the innervation of gracilis, adductor and pectineus?

obturator nerve

What artery appears to continue the femoral artery?

saphenous artery

Where does the saphenous artery run?

subcutaneously as cranial and causal parts assist in supply to distal part of hindlimb

What does the saphenous artery become as it passes between the heads of the gastrocnemius?

popliteal artery

Where does Semitendinosus lie?

between biceps femoris & semimembranosus

What does semitendinosus lie on near at its insertion?

medial head of gastrocnemius

What is semitendinosus covered by?

gracilis

How many bellies does semimembranosus have?

2

Where is semimembranosus?

between semitendinosus & biceps (laterally) & gracilis and adductor (medially)

What action do semitendinosus & semimembranosus have?

• hip extension

• stifle flexion

• (semitendinosus hock extension)

What is the innervation of semitendinosus & semimembranosus?

sciatic nerve

What muscle is the femoral nerve formed in?

ilopsoas (& continues down this muscle)

List the path of the femoral nerve

• ilopsoas

• quadriceps femoris (by rectus femoris & vastus medialis)

Where is the obturator nerve located?

• medial side of right ileum

• emerges ventrally from obturator foramen

• arborizes in adductor muscles

arborize meaning

form a structure shaped like a tree

List the relevant nerves of the hindlimb

• femoral nerve

• obturator nerve

• cranial gluteal nerve

• caudal gluteal nerve

• fibular (peroneal) nerve

• tibial nerve

What does the cranial gluteal nerve leave the pelvis through?

greater sciatic foramen

Where does the cranial gluteal nerve go?

• circles cranially across lateral aspect of the ilium at origin of deep gluteal nerve

• continues cranioventral between middle & deep gluteal muscles

• terminates in Tensor fascia lata

What does the caudal gluteal nerve pass out of?

greater sciatic foramen

Where does the caudal gluteal nerve go?

• across greater sciatic foramen

• enters medial surface of superficial gluteal

• leaves pelvis, passes down thigh (covered by SG & BF)

What does the fibular (peroneal) nerve lie under?

terminal portion of biceps femoris

Where does the fibular (peroneal) nerve run?

directly distal, crossing lateral head of gastrocnemius

What does the tibial nerve lie between?

caudal portions of semimembranosus medially & biceps laterally

Where does the tibial nerve enter the crus?

between the 2 heads of the gastrocnemius

What surface do the tibial nerve’s terminal parts run on?

plantar surface

Where is the rectus femoris?

between vastus medialis & vastus lateralis

What is the only muscle belly of the quadriceps to cross the hip joint?

rectus femoris

Where’s the vastus lateralis?

lateral and caudal to rectus femoris, deep to fascia lata

What is the vastus lateralis separated from the vastus intermedius by?

poorly developed septum

Where’s the vastus medialis?

arises from medial side of proximal end of cranial surface of femur and runs deep to 2 strap-like bellies of sartorius

Where does the vastus medialis insert?

patella

Where is the vastus intermedius?

• directly on cranial surface of femur, between vastus lateralis and vastus medialis

• fused to other vastus groups

What action do the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis and vastus intermedius have?

stifle extension (rectus femoris = hip flexor)

What is the innervation of rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis and vastus intermedius?

femoral nerve

What is the portion of the quadriceps tendon of insertion running from the patella to the tibial tuberosity known as?

patella ligament

What is the patella ligament like in the dog?

single band of connective tissue

What is different about the horse’s patella ligament?

split into multiple portions

What is the deep to the middle gluteal?

deep gluteal

What is the deep gluteal?

fan-shaped muscle (completely covered by middle gluteal)

What is the cranial tibial muscle?

most cranial muscle of the crus, with its medial margin in contact with the tibia

Where does the cranial tibial muscle insert?

tarsus

What is the action of the cranial tibial muscle?

hock flexor

What is the fibularis (peroneus) longus muscle?

most lateral muscle belly of the group

Where does the fibularis (peroneus) longus muscle tendon run?

in the lateral sulcus

What is the lateral sulcus?

depression caudal to lateral malleolus

What is the action of the fibularis (peroneus) longus?

hock flexor

What is the long digital extensor muscle?

spindle shaped muscle (partly covered by cranial tibial medially & fibularis (peroneus) longus laterally)

Where does the tendon of the long digital extensor muscle continue?

over tarsus, splitting to insert onto digits 

What is the action of the long digital extensor muscle?

hock flexor & digital extensor

What is the lateral digital extensor muscle?

very small, deep muscle which arises from head of fibula

What is the lateral digital extensor muscle most easily identified by?

tendon which inserts on most lateral functional digit 

What is the action of the lateral digital extensor muscle?

hock flexor & digital extensor

What are the cranial tibial, fibularis (peroneus) longus, long digital extensor and lateral digital extensor muscles innervated by?

peroneal/fibular nerve

Where do the digital flexor and hock extensor muscles of the distal hindlimb insert?

calcaneal tuber

What tendon do the digital flexor and hock extensor muscles of the distal hindlimb contribute to?

common calcaneal tendon

How many heads does gastrocnemius have?

2

Where is gastrocnemius?

encloses SDF between its heads

What action does gastrocnemius have?

the bellies act to extend the hock and have minor action in stifle flexion

What nerve is gastrocnemius innervated by?

tibial nerve

What is the superficial digital flexor muscle?

• spindle shaped muscle sandwiched between 2 heads of gastrocnemius muscle

• part of SDFT widens into a ‘cap’ over tuber calcanei

Where is popliteus?

covered by gastrocnemius & SDF & lies on stifle joint capsule & proximal tibia

How many heads does the deep digital flexor muscle have?

2

Where is the deep digital flexor muscle?

origin - lateral tibial condyle

insertion - distal phalanges

what restrictions do the collateral ligaments cause on the stifle joint?

reduce mediolateral flexibility

What does the lateral collateral ligament do?

prevent excessive bending towards the medial side

What does the medial collateral ligament do?

prevent excessive bending towards the lateral side

What would be the effect on articulation if the cranial cruciate ligament was broken?

cranial translation of the tibia in relation to the femur

What would be the effect on articulation if the caudal cruciate ligament was broken?

caudal translation of the tibia in relation to the femur