Canine Anatomy

Cranial

toward the head

Caudal

toward the tail

Dorsal

toward the back/spine

Ventral

toward the belly

Proximal

closer to the trunk/body along a limb

Distal

farther from the trunk/body along a limb; toward the paw

Medial

toward the body's midline

Lateral

away from the body's midline

What structure connects muscle to bone?

Tendon. Memory cue: tetherball — pole = bone, rope = tendon, ball = muscle.

What structure connects bone to bone?

Ligament

What happens to a muscle when it contracts?

It develops tension and typically shortens when producing movement.

On a typical limb muscle, which attachment is usually more proximal?

Origin

On a typical limb muscle, which attachment is usually more distal?

Insertion

When a muscle shortens, which attachment typically moves toward the other?

Insertion moves toward origin.

What is the olecranon?

The point of the elbow. Memory cue: OLÉ! 👏👏

What bone is the olecranon part of?

Ulna

What does it mean when a muscle "crosses a joint"?

The muscle/tendon spans across that joint, with attachments on opposite sides of it.

Why does it matter whether a muscle crosses a joint?

A muscle generally needs to cross a joint to directly move that joint.

What does "line of pull" mean?

The direction a muscle's force pulls when it contracts. Ask: "If this muscle gets shorter, which way will it pull the bone?"

What happens at the elbow when the biceps brachii contracts?

Elbow flexion.

Where is the biceps brachii?

Cranial aspect of the upper forelimb.

What happens at the elbow when the triceps contracts?

Elbow extension.

Where is the triceps?

Caudal aspect of the upper forelimb.

Where does the triceps insert?

Olecranon — the point of the elbow.

What is the canine equivalent of the knee called?

Stifle

Where are the hamstrings located?

Caudal thigh.

Name the three hamstring muscles we've learned.

Biceps femoris, semitendinosus, semimembranosus.

Where is the biceps femoris?

Caudal/lateral thigh.

Which two joints does the biceps femoris cross?

Hip and stifle.

What two actions have we learned for biceps femoris?

Extends the hip and flexes the stifle.

Where is the semitendinosus?

Caudal thigh.

Which two joints does semitendinosus cross?

Hip and stifle.

What two actions have we learned for semitendinosus?

Extends the hip and flexes the stifle.

Where is the semimembranosus?

Caudal thigh.

What action have we learned for semimembranosus so far?

Hip extension.