Canine Pelvic Limb Muscles

Muscles of the Croup

1. Superficial Gluteal

2. Middle Gluteal (& piriformis)

3. Deep Gluteal

4. Tensor Fasciae Latae

Tensor Fasciae Latae m.

O: Tuber Coxae

I: Fascia Lata

A: Flexes the hip and extends the stifle

N: Cranial Gluteal Nerve

Superficial Gluteal m.

O: Sacral Tuber, sacrotuberous ligament, gluteal fascia, sacrum

I: Third Trochanter

A: Extend hip and abduct limb

N: Caudal Gluteal Nerve

Middle Gluteal m.

O: Iliac crest, gluteal surface of the ilium

I: Greater trochanter

A: Extend hip and abduct limb

N: Cranial Gluteal Nerve

Deep Gluteal m.

O: Ischiatic Spine, body of the ilium

I: Greater Trochanter

A: Extend hip and abduct limb

N: Cranial Gluteal Nerve

Caudal Muscles of the Thigh (Hamstrings) m.

1. Bicep Femoris

2. Semitendinosus

3. Semimembranosus

Biceps Femoris m.

O: Ischiatic Tuber

I: Calcanean Tuber, Fascia Lata, Crural Fascia, Patellar Ligament, Cranial border of Tibia

A: Can flex (caudal head) or extend the stifle, extend the hock, extend the hip

N: Sciatic Nerve

Semitendinosus m.

O: Ischiatic Tuber

I: Craniomedial Tibia & calcaneal tuber

A: Extend hip & hock, extend/flex stifle depending on position.

N: Sciatic Nerve

Semimembranosus m.

O: Ischiatic Tuber

I: Proximal Tibia and distal femur medially

A: Extend hip, extend/flex stifle

N: Sciatic Nerve

Caudal Crural Abductor m.

Present on deep part of the biceps, next to semitendinosus

Outward Rotators of the Hip Joint m.

1. Internal Obturator

2. External Obturator

3. Gemelli

4. Quadratus Femoris

Internal Obturator m.

O: Internal area around the obturator foramen

I: Trochanteric Fossa

A: rotate the thigh outwards

N: Sciatic nerve

External Obturator m

O: external area around the obturator foramen

I: Trochanteric Fossa

A: Outward rotator of the hip

N: obturator nerve

External Obturator m

O: external area around the obturator foramen

I: Trochanteric Fossa

A: Outward rotator of the thigh

N: obturator nerve

Quadratus Femoris m.

O: Ischium

I: Intertrochanteric Crest

A: Outward rotator of the hip

N: Sciatic Nerve

Quadratus Femoris m.

O: Ischium

I: Intertrochanteric Crest

A: Outward rotator of the thigh

N: Sciatic Nerve

Gracilis m.

O: Pubic Symphysis

I: Calcaneal Tuber, cranial border of the tibia, crural fascia

A: Adducts the limb

N: Obturator nerve

Pectineus m.

O: Illiopubic eminence and pubic

I: Medial femur

A: Adduct the limb

N: Obturator nerve

Adductor m.

O: Pubic symphysis

I: Lateral lip of the femur

A: Adduct the limb

N: Obturator

Sartorius (cranial and caudal heads) m.

O:

(Dogs) Cranial head-illiac crest and fascia

caudal head-tuber coxae

(Cats)

I: medial aspect of the stifle

A: cranial extends stifle and caudal flexes the stifle

N: Femoral nerve

Femoral Triangle

* femoral vein, artery, and saphenous nerve

base: vascular lacunae and inguinal ligament

Caudal: pectineus

Cranial: sartorius

medial: medial femoral fascia

Cranial Thigh Muscles m.

1. quadriceps femoris

a. Vastus medialis

b. vastus laterialis

c. vastus intermedius ( seen when rectus is cut)

d. rectus femoris

*major extensor of the stifle joint

Quadriceps Femoris- Rectus Femoris m.

O: Illium

I: Tibial tuberosity

A: extend the stifle, flexes the hip

N: Femoral nerve

Quadriceps Femoris- vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and vastus intermedius m.

O: Proximal femur (laterally,medially, cranially)

I: Tibial Tuberosity

A: Extend the stifle

N: Femoral nerve

Sublumbar m.

Iliopsoas- inguinal ligament (base of the femoral triangle)

O: Lumbar vertebrae and ilium

I: Lesser trochanter of femur

A: Flex Hip

N: Femoral Nerve

Craniolateral Muscles of the Crus m.

1. Cranial Tibial

2. Long Digital Extensor

3. Peroneus Longus

4. Lateral Digital Extensor

5. Peroneus Brevis (short/small and lies on the bone)

6. Short digital Extensor (in the v between the long and lateral digital extensors)

Cranial Tibial m.

* most prominent in canines

O: Lateral condyle, tibial tuberosity, and proximal tibia

I: Proximal Plantar Surface of Metatarsal I & II

A: Flexes the hock and rotates the paw laterally (plantar pes then faces medially)

N: peroneal nerve

Long Digital Extensor m.

* follows cranial tibial when going laterally

O: Extensor fossa of the femur

I: Extensor fossa of distal phalanges of digit II, III, IV, and V

A: Flex the hock and extend the digits

N: Peroneal Nerve

Peroneus Longus m.

O: Head of the fibula, adjacent part of the tibia

I: 4th tarsal bone (most lateral), plantar aspect of proximal ends of metatarsals

A: Flex the hock, rotate the paw medially (plantar pes surface faces laterally)

N: peroneal nerve

Short Digital Extensor m

* in the V between long digital extensor and lateral digital extensor

Lateral Digital Extensor m.

O: proximal lateral tibia and fibula

I: 5th digit in carnivores

A: Flex the hock, extend the digits

N: peroneal nerve

Peroneus Brevis m.

Flexes the hock

Caudal Muscles of the Crus

1. Gastrocnemius

2. Superficial Digital Flexor

3. Deep Digital Flexor

* lateral head- larger, caudal surface of tibia

* medial head

4. popliteus 5. Soleus (not in the dog)

6. Tibialis Caudalis

Gastrocnemius m.

O: medial and lateral supracondylar tuberosities of the femur

I: Calcaneal tuber

A: Extend hock, flex stifle

N: Tibial nerve

Soleus m.

well developed in cats

Superficial Digital Flexor m.

O: lateral supercondylar tuberosity of femur (carnivores)

I: Calcaneal tuber (bursa here), bases of middle phalanges of digits II-V (carnivores)

A: Extend the hock, flex stifle, flex metatarsophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints.

N: tibial nerve

Deep Digital Flexor m.

O: Caudal surfaces of tibia & fibula

I: Flexor surface of distal phalanx or phalanges

A: Extend hock and flex digits

N: Tibial nerve

Deep Digital Flexor (lateral head) Positioning m.

Passes through the tarsal canal under the flexor retinaculum

Deep Digital Flexor (medial head) m.

Passes through medial collateral ligament; joins the lateral head distal to the tarsus.

Tibialis Caudalis

separate small muscle in carnivores

Popliteus

O: politeal foss on lateral condyle of the femur

I: Proximal 1/3 of caudal surface of tibia

A: flex stifle and rotate leg medially

N: Tibial nerve

Medial Collateral Ligament

Extends from the medial epicondyle of the femur to the medial tibia

tarsal canal

covered by flexor retinaculum

lateral head of DDF goes through and so does the tibial nerve

Muscles that contribute to the common calcaneal tendon

1. Biceps Femoris

2. Gracilis

3. Semitendinosus

4. Gastrocnemius (main one)

5. Superficial digital flexor (main one)