Bones - Dog Anatomy

Great Dane and Chihuahua Skeletons, Sklmsta, March 2010

Introduction

This page is concerned with highlighting the bone anatomy of the domestic dog which will include the major aspects of the anatomy and most of the minor elements of anatomy. Very detailed anatomy of individual bones is not covered below due to space restrictions.

The anatomical information included below is commonly split into three separate areas; head, trunk and the forelimbs / hindlimbs. Therefore the following information will use this concept to facilitate easier understanding of the individual areas of anatomy.

Basic Overview

Head

Within an anatomy perspective the head encompasses all bones cranial to the cervical vertebrae of the neck. The head consists of a number of complex bones of varying types and size which will be both described and where possible will also be shown photographically.

Trunk

The trunk is in broad terms the body of the animal and is what would remain if the head and limbs were removed. It can be seperated in four parts, the cervical vertebrae, thorax, lumbar region and pelvis. Anatomically these structures are distinguishable and each area has distinctive shapes, sizes and physiological roles.