Clinical one written practical

the acromion is a useful palpable landmark for what?

arthrocentesis of the shoulder joint and detection of shoulder luxation

• u can palpate on cadaver

The clavicle and coracoid process of cats

more developed and palpable

• recognized in normal radiographs

acromion in cats

exhibits a hamate and suprahamate process

what happens to the dorsal border of the scapula on cats?

normally projects above the spinous processes of the thoracic vertebrae

• as cats move the dorsal border becomes prominent when bearing weight

the caudal aspect of the head of the humerus is a common site for what?

osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesions and flexions of the shoulder joint and is painful

• greater tubercle is the preferred site for collection of bone marrow for samples and grafts. Palatable distal and cranial to the acromion

humeral condyle is a common site for what?

articular fractures

What do cats have that dogs don’t (and vise versa) on the humerus

no supratrochlear foramen but have a supracondylar foramen located distally on the medial aspect above the medial epicondyle

what artery and nerve go through the supracondylar foramen in cats?

brachial artery and median nerve

• vulnerable to injury in distal humeral fractures and must be considered in fracture repair

olecranon is prone to what?

avulsion fractures because of the attachment of the triceps m

• during elbow luxation, the palpable olecranon is displaced laterally to the lateral epicondyle (palpable).

what is it called if the anconeal process (a separate ossification center in immature dogs) does not fuse in time? what happens?

• a condition known as ununited anconeal process develops, which can lead to degenerative joint disease (arthritis) of the elbow

• medial coronoid process can fragment also leading to degenerative joint disease in the elbow.

• pressure over the medial aspect of the elbow will elicit pain for this condition

why is the ungual crest important?

important landmark in declawing. failure to remove ungual crest will result in regrowth of the claw

what keeps the claw in a retracted state in cats?

the dorsal elastic ligaments

• distal phalanx lies lateral to the middle pharynx. flexion of the deep digital flexor muscle exposes the muscle

  • important when forming declaws

• to unsheathe its claw, the deep digital flexor m. must contact enough to over power the elastic ligaments

what is the carpal organ?

specialized sensory elevation in the skin of the caudal forearm

• has stiff whiskers connected to pressure receptors. not to be confused with a tumor or some other skin legion

in cats what is the difference with the superficial pectoral and cleidobrachialis part of the brachiocephalicus

• they extend way below the elbow to terminate on the ulna. good for grooming

trauma to the infraspinatus leads to what?

leads to fibrosis of the m. resulting in external rotation and extension of the shoulder joint, called infraspinatus contracture

a bursa lies between a _________ and __________

tendon and tuberosity

what can happen to the subcutaneous bursa of the olecranon?

can fill with synovial fluid (hygroma) as a reaction to excessive strain.

• may become visible as tense plump swelling, up to an egg size at the olecranon

what can the muscle mass of the triceps occasionally be used for?

intramuscular injections, esp. in large dogs

why is the anconeus m. elevated from the lateral epicondyle of the humerus?

to gain access to the elbow joint for removal of a ununited anconeal process

the separation between the extensor capri carpi radials and the common digital extensor m. is the landmark for?

exposure of the radius in fracture repair

do cats have a well developed brachioradialis m.? what is it and its function?

its a long narrow band like muscle that passes along the medial border of the forearm.

• originates on the humerus and inserts on the radius

• function is to flex the elbow but is also capable of pronation or supination depending on the position of the arm

what happens to the humerus in shoulder joint instability?

the proximal end of the humerus can easily be moved cranially and hyperextension is possible

• remember acromion and the greater tubercle of the humerus are landmarks for a shoulder tap

dislocations or luxation's of the elbow are… (common/uncommon?)

uncommon unless there is damage to the ulna or distal humerus

• for it to occur without a fracture, trauma would have to occur while the elbow is extremely flexed

• both collateral ligaments are ruptured in elbow luxations

what can be done for diagnostic/ therapeutic procedures?

possible to put in a small needle in the antebrachiocarpal and middle carpal joints for diagnostic or therapeutic procedures

tendon of the common digital extensor has what embedded in it?

sesamoid bones- as it crosses the dorsal aspect of the metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints.

• visible on radiographs

main channel pattern for the forelimb in cats?

starts in the distal forelimb, travels through the radial artery (considered a branch of the median artery in other species), passes the medial surface if the carpus to reach the dorsal aspect of the metacarpal region. Then passes from dorsal to palmar, giving rise to the deep palmar arch and supplies the digits through palmar metacarpal (PMCA) and palmar proper digital aa (PPDA)

what V. are most used for venous blood samples and/or IV injections and catheter placement?

external jugular and cephalic vein

• can also use cephalic vein

must hold off the median cubital vein to completely occlude the venous return when preforming blood draws

in cats what vein is usually not present?

the orobranchial vein

what must you consider when preforming a medial approach to shaft repair of a humeral fracture?

relationship between the musculocutaneous, median. and ulnar intervention

• avoid the radial nerve during lateral repair

when preforming venipuncture in the cephalic vein on the cranial aspect of the antebrachium remember…

medial and lateral to the bein are sensory branches of the radial nerve

• so the perivenous needle injection may produce a painful reaction

• superficial medial and lateral arteries are also located here and can be the case of a hematoma if aggressive multiple needle re-directions occur