Canine and Feline Forelimb Osteology Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering canine and feline forelimb anatomy, general osteology, skeletal classifications, bone development, and structural landmarks based on lecture material.

Hematopoiesis

The production of blood cells, derived from hema or hemo (blood) and poiesis (to make).

Axial skeleton

The skeletal division comprising the skull, mandible, vertebrae, ribs, and sternebrae.

Appendicular skeleton

The skeletal division comprising the bones of the limbs.

Heterotopic bones

Bones that form within soft tissue, such as the bony clavicle and os penis.

Vertebral formula of dogs and cats

C7 T13 L7 S3 Cd20-23, representing 7 cervical, 13 thoracic, 7 lumbar, 3 sacral, and 20 to 23 caudal vertebrae.

Fovea and Fossa

Depressions or hollow areas on a bone, where a fovea is smaller than a fossa.

Tubercle, Tuberosity, and Tuber

Protuberances or elevations on a bone, arranged in increasing relative size from tubercle to tuberosity to tuber.

Sesamoid bones

Bones embedded within tendons, such as the patella and palmar or dorsal sesamoids.

Pneumatic bones

Bones containing air spaces, such as mammalian skull bones containing paranasal sinuses.

Woven bone

An unorganized arrangement of immature bone found in juvenile or developing bones and during early fracture repair.

Lamellar bone

A highly ordered arrangement of mature bone tissue.

Cortical bone

Also known as compact bone; dense layers of lamellar bone forming the outer shell of bones.

Cancellous bone

Also known as trabecular bone; a lattice arrangement of bony spicules located deep to cortical bone.

Red marrow

Highly vascularized marrow containing hematopoietic tissue and erythroid cells rich in hemoglobin, predominant in young animals.

Yellow marrow

Bone marrow rich in adipose tissue containing carotenoids, predominant in the medullary cavities of adult animals.

Intraosseous (IO) access

A route used for fluid replacement or drug administration when IV access is unavailable, commonly placed at the flat area of the proximal lateral humerus.

Hyaline cartilage

Smooth cartilage lining the superficial surface of subchondral bone at articular surfaces.

Periosteum

A connective tissue membrane lining the superficial surface of non-articular bone areas.

Endosteum

A membrane lining the deep surface of compact bone.

Epiphysis

The enlarged proximal or distal end of a long bone.

Diaphysis

The elongated central shaft or body of a long bone containing the marrow cavity.

Metaphysis

The section of a long bone situated between the epiphysis and diaphysis.

Physis

Also known as the growth plate or epiphyseal plate; the cartilaginous region where long bones increase in length.

Intramembranous ossification

The process where mesenchymal cells differentiate directly into osteoblasts and lay down osteoid without a cartilage intermediate.

Endochondral ossification

The process where mesenchymal cells form a cartilage model that is progressively calcified, resorbed, and replaced by bone.

Thoracic girdle

The anatomical region of the forelimb skeleton composed of the scapula and, in cats, the clavicle.

Brachium

The upper segment of the forelimb containing the humerus.

Antebrachium

The forearm segment consisting of the radius and ulna.

Manus

The distal portion of the forelimb comprising the carpus, metacarpus, and digits.

Feline clavicle

An osseous bone embedded in the brachiocephalicus muscle of cats, whereas dogs have only a fibrous clavicular intersection.

Supraspinous fossa

The depression on the lateral surface of the scapula cranial to the spine, serving as the attachment site for the supraspinatus muscle.

Infraspinous fossa

The depression on the lateral surface of the scapula caudal to the spine, serving as the attachment site for the infraspinatus muscle.

Acromion

The distal termination of the scapular spine serving as an attachment site for the omotransversarius and deltoideus muscles.

Glenoid cavity

The shallow concave surface on the ventral angle of the scapula that articulates with the humeral head to form the glenohumeral joint.

Supraglenoid tubercle

A projection on the distal scapula cranial to the glenoid cavity serving as the origin for the biceps brachii muscle.

Subscapular fossa

The broad concavity on the medial surface of the scapula serving as the origin for the subscapularis muscle.

Supracondylar foramen

An opening on the distal medial surface of the feline humerus through which the brachial artery and median nerve pass.

Deltoid tuberosity

A prominent elevation on the lateral aspect of the humerus serving as an insertion site for the deltoideus muscle.

Trochlea of the humerus

The medial portion of the humeral condyle that articulates with the radius and ulna to form the cubital joint.

Capitulum

The lateral portion of the humeral condyle that articulates with the head of the radius.

Olecranon fossa

A deep excavation on the caudal surface of the distal humerus that receives the anconeal process of the ulna during elbow extension.

Supratrochlear foramen

A hole passing through the distal humerus between the radial and olecranon fossae in dogs.

Olecranon

The large proximal process of the ulna forming the point of the elbow, serving as an insertion site for the triceps muscle.

Anconeal process

A sharp, proximal projection on the trochlear notch of the ulna that enters the olecranon fossa upon extension of the elbow joint.

Proximal carpal row

The proximal set of carpal bones comprising the intermedioradial carpal, ulnar carpal, and accessory carpal bones.

Distal carpal row

The set of carpal bones comprising the first, second, third, and fourth carpal bones (C1, C2, C3, and C4).

Extensor process of P3

A dorsal projection on the proximal aspect of the distal phalanx that provides insertion for the common digital extensor muscle.

Flexor tubercle of P3

A palmar elevation on the proximal aspect of the distal phalanx that serves as the insertion site for the deep digital flexor muscle.