Veterinary Osteology: Bone Classification and Skeletal Anatomy

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering comparative veterinary osteology, including bone classification, bone surface markings, and the skeletal anatomy of the forelimb, hindlimb, and pelvic girdle.

Long bone

A bone characterized by a proximal epiphysis, diaphysis, distal epiphysis, compact bone, spongious bone, and a central medullary cavity (e.g., horse humerus).

Pneumatic bones

Bones that contain air cavities and an aerian foramen, such as the humerus in birds.

Papyracea bones

Bones that are thin and paper-like in structure, such as the turbinate bones.

Short bone

A category of bone lacking a medullary cavity, exemplified by the carpal and tarsal bones.

Flat bone

A thin, expanded bone without a medullary cavity, such as the scapula.

Articular head

A rounded enlargement located at the end of a bone, typically oriented in a caudal and dorsal direction.

Condyle

A somewhat cylindrical articular eminence that provides a single articular surface.

Trochlea

An articular eminence characterized by 2 rims and a central depression, comprising 3 articular surfaces.

Glenoid cavity (cavitas glenoidalis)

A shallow articular depression that accommodates a trochlea and condyle.

Cotyloid cavity (acetabulum)

A deep articular socket situated on the coxal bone.

Cochlea

An articular cavity on the distal end of the tibia that forms the negative counterpart of a trochlea.

Facet

An articular cavity or contact area characterized by small-extent surfaces.

Tuberosity and Tubercle

Rough, non-articular projections where muscles insert (typically located laterally); a tuberosity is a large rounded projection, while a tubercle is a smaller one.

Hiatus

A non-articular opening consisting of multiple foramina for vessels or nerves that correspond through canals.

Facies serrata

The serrated muscular impression situated on the medial surface of the scapula.

Acromion in ruminants

A scapular process where the scapular spine rises progressively and terminates abruptly.

Clavicle in felines

A rudimentary pectoral girdle bone present in $70\%$ of felines.

Humerus

The long bone that serves as the anatomical base for the arm (brachial) region.

Lateral epicondyle of the humerus

The distal lateral eminence of the humerus that serves as the attachment site for extensor muscles.

Medial epicondyle of the humerus (epitrochlea)

The distal medial eminence of the humerus that serves as the attachment site for flexor muscles.

Supratrochlear foramen

A distal humeral foramen found proximal to the trochlea in the dog and rabbit.

Epitrochlear foramen

A distinctive foramen situated on the medial side above the medial epicondyle in the humerus of the cat.

Antebrachial region

The forearm region whose anatomical base is formed by the radius and ulna.

Anconeal process

A proximal, beak-like projection on the ulna that overhangs the trochlear notch.

Ulna of swine

A well-developed bone where the olecranon constitutes $\frac{1}{3}$ of the total bone length, lacks an interosseous space, and terminates distally in a styloid process.

Styloid process in ruminants

The distal projection of the ulna that extends longer than the distal end of the radius.

Proximal carpal row (PiTri LuSca)

The first row of carpal bones consisting, from lateral to medial, of the accessory carpal bone (pisiforme), ulnar carpal bone (triquetrum), intermediate carpal bone (lunatum), and radial carpal bone (scaphoideum).

Distal carpal row (Ham CaTra)

The second row of carpal bones consisting, from lateral to medial, of the 4th carpal bone (hamatum), 3rd carpal bone (capitatum), and 2nd carpal bone (trapezoideum).

Accessory carpal bone (Pisiforme)

The lateral-most bone of the proximal carpal row projecting palmaro-laterally.

Metacarpal bones

The anatomical base for the metacarpian region; in the horse, Mc III is the most developed and bears two distal condyles separated by a median eminence.

Proximal phalanx (Ph 1)

The bone of the pastern region bearing two glenoid cavities separated by a median groove on its proximal extremity and a trochlea on its distal extremity.

Middle phalanx (Ph 2)

The bone of the coronet region featuring two glenoid cavities separated by a median eminence, an extensor process, and a flexor tuberosity.

Distal phalanx (Ph 3)

The bone of the hoof region presenting an extensor (pyramidal) process, parietal surface, solear border, crena, and solear surface.

Navicular bone

The distal sesamoid bone that articulates with the middle and distal phalanxes.

Semilunar canal

An internal vascular channel of the distal phalanx that connects to the two solear foramina on the solear surface.

The Coxae

The pelvic girdle bone formed by the fusion of the ilium, ischium, and pubis around the acetabulum.

Tuber coxae

The craniolateral angle of the ilium (external iliac angle), which presents 4 tubercles in horses.

Tuber ischii

The caudolateral tuberous angle of the ischium, which bears 3 tubercles in ruminants.

Sciatic spine (supraacetabular crest)

A prominent dorsal bony ridge on the pelvis located between the greater sciatic notch and lesser sciatic notch.

Femur

The long bone that provides the anatomical base of the thigh region.

Fovea capitis

A ligamentary fossa located on the articular head of the femur for the insertion of the round ligament.

Trochanter III (Third trochanter)

A prominent lateral bony projection situated along the shaft of the femur below the major trochanter (Trochanter I).

Trochlea and Condyles of the Femur

The distal articular structures of the femur, where the trochlea is positioned cranially and the two femoral condyles are positioned caudally.

Gaskin region

The anatomical region of the crus whose skeletal base is formed by the tibia and fibula.

Cochlea of the tibia

The distal articular surface of the tibia, containing cochlear ditches that are aligned obliquely in horses.

Hock region (Tarsus)

The joint region whose anatomical base consists of the tarsal bones.

Calcaneus

A prominent tarsal bone featuring the calcanean tuberosity and the sustentaculum tali.

Astragalus

The tarsal bone bearing a proximal trochlea that articulates with the cochlea of the tibia.

Os cuneiforme mediointermedium

A composite tarsal bone formed by the fusion of the 2nd tarsal bone with the 1st tarsal bone.