Palpable Points - Horse Anatomy

Forelimb

The Shoulder

Bones

• Cranial border of the scapula
• Dorsal border of the scapular cartilage
• Spine of the scapula
• Caudal division of the greater tuberosity, humerus
• Deltoid tuberosity, humerus
• Greater tuberosity, humerus

Soft Tissue

• Brachiocephalicus
• Deltoid muscles
• Triceps
• Supraspinatus and infrapinatus

For further details see: Equine muscles

Antebrachium and Elbow

Bones

• Olecranon
• Lateral epicondyle, humerus
• Lateral tuberosity, radius
• Styloid process, radius

Joint

• Identified between distal humeral epicondyle and lateral tuberosity of the radius. The collateral ligament runs between these two landmarks.

Soft tissue

• Extensor carpi radialis
• Common digital extensor
• Extensor carpi ulnaris and flexor carpi ulnaris, the groove between these two muscles can be felt caudally
• Tendon sheath of flexor carpi radialis

For further details see: Equine muscles

Metacarpal region and Carpus

Bones

• Medial styloid process of radius
• Lateral styloid process of radius
• Accessory carpal bone
• Medial and lateral splint bones and their buttons

Joint

• Radiocarpal joint
• Carpal canal

Soft tissue

• Extensor carpi radialis tendon
• Common digital extensor tendon
• Lateral digital extensor tendon
• Flexor reticulum
• Superficial and deep digital flexor tendon
• Accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon
• Suspensory ligament
• Blood vessels and nerves in mid-metacarpal region
• Medial palmar artery

Metacarpophalangeal Joint

Bones

• Sagittal ridge of dorsal metacarpus under common digital extensor tendon
• Dorsoproximal margin of proximal phalanx
• Proximal sesamoid bones

Soft tissue

• Common digital flexor tendon
• Dorsal pouch of the joint either side of the common digital extensor tendon
• Lateral digital extensor
• Neurovascular bundle on the abaxial surface of the proximal sesamoids
• Collateral ligaments of proximal sesamoids
• Suspensory ligament
• Palmar annular ligament
• Palmar pouch of joint
• Proximal pouch of digital sheath between the suspensory ligament and digital flexor tendon

Pastern

Bones

• Epicondyles of distal proximal phalanx and palmar processes of proximal middle phalanx show the site of the joint

Soft tissue

• Dorsal pouch of distal interphalangeal joint
• Collateral cartilage
• Extensor slips from Suspensory ligament attaching to the common digital extensor tendon
• Widening of common digital extensor tendon
• Collateral ligaments of joint attaching to epicondyle of middle phalanx
• flexor tendons
• Digital arteries

Foot

• Coronary band and periople
• Heel
• Frog
• Paracuneal sulcus
• Sole
• White line
• Wall of hoof

For further details see: equine hoof

Hindlimb

Thigh and Hindquarters

Bones

• Tuber coxae
• Greater trochanter of the femur
• Third trochanter of the femur
• Medial troclear ridge of the femur

Soft tissue

• Semimembranosus
• Semitendinosus
• Biceps femoris
• Quadriceps
• Gluteals
• Tensor fascia latae

Crus and Stifle

Bones

• Lateral condyle of tibia
• Lateral malleolus of tibia
• Tibial crest
• Patella

Joints

• Femeropatellar joint
• Femerotibial joint

Soft tissue

• Cranial tibial
• Long and lateral digital extensor muscles
• Gastrocnemius
• Deep digital flexor muscle
• Patellar ligaments
• Quadriceps
• Combined tendon of fibularis tertius and long digital extensor
• Lateral and medial collateral ligaments
• Medial menisci
• Popliteal tendon

Hock

Bones

• Lateral and medial malleolus of the tibia
• Trochlea of the talus
• Sustentaculum tali
• Heads of the splint bones

Joints

• Tarsocrural joint
• Proximal intertarsal joint
• Distal intertarsal joint
• Tarsometatarsal joint

Soft tissue

• Cranial tibial
• Peroneus tertius
• Long digital extensor
• Lateral digital extensor
• Lateral collateral ligaments
• Saphenous vein
• Medial collateral ligaments of tarsocrural joint
• Cunean tendon
• Achilles tendon - SDFT, gastrocnemius, deep tarsal ligaments
• Calcaneal bursa
• Plantar ligament of calcaneus

Metatarsal Region

Bones

• Splint bones

Soft tissue

• Long digital extensor tendon
• Lateral digital extensor tendon
• Lateral and medial palmar artery
• Suspensory ligament
• Flexor tendons

Metatarsophalangeal Joint and Foot

• As for forelimb

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