Horse Anatomy

Mouth

First part of the horse's digestive tract

Cannon

The long bone below the knee or hock

Chestnuts

The horny growths on the inside of the horse's legs

Croup

The part of the horse's back just in front of the base of the tail

Frog

Soft fiberous portion of the horse's hoof

Trachea

The main tube of the horse's respiratory system

Floating

Filing down of the rough surface of the molars to give a smooth grinding surface

Hand

The unit of measure used to measure a horse's height, equals 4 inches

Iris

The colored portion of the horse's eye that adjusts to control the amount of light entering

Laminae

The horny grooved inside of the hoof, connects the coffin bone to the hoof wall

Glass eye

An eye without pigment, often present in horses with white faces

Smooth mouth

Term for the biting surface of the upper and lower incisors after the cups have disappeared at 12 yrs of age or older

Dental Star

A star shaped or circle like structure near the center of the wearing surface of the permanent incisors

Full Mouth

Term for when a horse has all its permanent teeth

Monogastric

Termfor any animal having only one stomach

Monocular vision

The term for the ability to see separate objects with each eye at the same time

Optic nerve

The large nerve behind the eye

Haw

The third eyelid or membrane in front of the eye which removes foreign bodies from the eye

Sebum

A oily, waxy secretion that coats the hair protecting it from overwetting, adds sleekness and luster to the coat

Ligaments

What holds bones together

Tendons

How are muscles attached to bones

Femur

What is the name of the bone located between the hip and stifle joints

Rangy

Term for a horse that is lean, muscular, and of slight build

Anatomy

The science and study of the structure of the animal body in relation to its parts

Type

Commonly accepted standard or idel that combines essential characteristics in adapting an animal for a particular purpose or use (draft, light, stock, pony)

7

How many cervical vertebrae are in the horse's neck

Goose rumped

A hose having a short steep croup

Barrel

The area on a horse between the shoulders and hip

Gaskin

The muscular portion of the hind leg just above the hock

205

How many bones in the horse's body

Interdental space

The area in a horse's mouth between the molars and incisors

Quarter

The external part of the horse's hoof between the heel and toe

Neck

The external part of the horse's neck between the withers and poll

Commissures

The grooves on either side of the frog that give elasticity to the horse's hoof

Galvayne's groove

A groove that appears on the upper corner incisor at 9-10 ys of age and dissapears after 25

Skeleton

What part of the horse's body contains approx. 80% of the body's phosphorus

18

How many pairs of ribs does the horse have

Cecum

What part of the horse's digestive tract is the primary site of net water absorption

Stifle joint

The joint located between the femur and the tibia

Buccal cavity

The name for the mouth or oral passages

Integumentary system

The body system responsible for the horse's hair and skin, external protection and thermoregulation

Humerus

The name for the bone located between the elbow and shoulder joints

Irregular

How are the bones of the spinal column classified

Muscular system

The body system responsible for locomotion and vital body functions

Respiratory system

The body system responsible for providing oxygen and eliminating carbon dioxide

Circulatory system

Body system that carries blood to tissues and cells

Digestive system

Body system responsible for ingestion, digestion, asorption of nutrients and elimination of wastes

Urinary system

Body system responsible for the elimination of wastes

Endocrine system

Body system responsible for hormone and chemical control of body functions

Skeletal system

Body system responsible for support of body form and protection of vital organs

Reproductive system

Body system responsible for the production of offspring

Withers

Part of the horse that is formed by the 3rd, 4th and 5th thorasic vertebrae

Scapula

Term for the horse's shoulder blade

Digital cushion

The fibro-elastic, fatty cushion located above the frog that aids in shock absorption in the horse's foot

Shivering

Term for the spasmotic involuntary muscle contractions that produce heat that help maintain body temp

Jugular groove

Groove on either side of the neck above the windpipe

Mandible

The horse's lower hinged jaw

Maxilla

The horse's upper jaw

Milk teeth

The foals first, small whiter baby teeth, shed by age 5

Quarter

The area of the horse's body that includes the croup, rump, and down the sides to the gaskin

Shin

The front part of the cannon bone

Temples

The area on either side of the horse's forehead

Udder

The mammary gland of the mare that produces milk

Subcutaneous

Term for beneath the skin

Muzzle

Area of the horse that includes the nostrils, mouth, chin and lips

Periople

The narrow strip below the cornary band that seals the outer surface of the hoof and prevents it from drying out

Sclera

The outer white fiberous membrane covering the eyeball except for the area covered by the cornea (colored part)

37

How many bones make up the horse's skull

Whorl

A line or spot where hairs that lie in different directions meet

Axis

The second vertebrae in the cervical (neck) region

Panniculus muscle

What specialized muscle allows the horse to twitch it's skin and shake flies off it's body

Cannon bone

What bone is located between the horse's knee and ankle

18

How many thorasic vertebrae does the horse normally have

Flat bones

What classification of bones encloses cavities containing vital organs

Atlas

What is the name of first vertebrae in the cervical (neck) region

Synovial fluid

What is the name for the fluid which lubricates joints

Carpal bones

What are the bones that make up the horse's knee joint

Tarsal bones

What are the bones that make up the horse's hock joint

Muzzle

Where are the tactile hairs located

Intercostal muscles

What is the name of the muscle group that are locate between the ribs and are involved in respiration

Alveoli

The name for the air sacs in the lungs where O2 and CO2 are exchanged

Stifle

When viewed from behind, what area should be the widest point of the hindquarters

Orbital cavity

The name for the bony socket that surrounds and protects the eye

Bones

What part of the horse's anatomy acts as levers, stores minerals, and is the site of blood cell formation

Blind gut

What is another name for the cecum

Hormone

What is the chemical secreted by the endocrine system that regulates body functions