Hind Limb Locomotion Flashcards
K-9 Breeds’ Postures
In lean breeds, skin of croup indicates the form of underlying muscles
Back and croup sloping down towards tail
Hip, stifle, and (tarsal) hock joints markedly flexed.
Stiffer Upright posture:
Major joints extended, and Tarsus ‘hock’ straight.
Predispose stifle joint to several disorders.
Skeletal Landmarks cb
Bone marrow biopsy at the iliac crest
Palpable structures
Joints of the Hind Limb
Sacroiliac
Hip
Stifle
Tarsal
Digital
Hind Limb Myology:
Major muscles of the Hip (propulsion group):
Retraction (hind extended)
Gluteal
hip extenders (move caudally)
Protraction (acute/flexed in rear)
Iliopsoas,
hip flexors
Reciprocal mechanism:
Movements of the stifle and (hock) tarsal joints move in unison.
Muscle Acting On Hip Joint
Propulsion Group
Retraction (hind limb extended)
Gluteal Group
Tensor fascia latae
Protraction (hind limb flexed)
Iliopsoas
Medial group –
Gracilis,
Adductor
Deep group
Internal, external obturator
Caudal group (hamstring)
Semitendinosus
Semimembranosus
Major Muscles Of Hip
The Gluteal group:
Superficial gluteal:
Extensor of hip (retractor of limb)
Origin?
Insert?
Middle gluteal:
Powerful Extensor of Hip
Major player!!
Origin
Insert?
Accessory & Piriformis lay under
Deep gluteal (profundus):
Can’t extend hip
Origin?
Insert?.
Abduction of limb
Tensor fasciae latae:
From tuber coxae Cross hip joint
Insert fascia latae
(tendon of bicep femoris)
Flexor of hip
Synergist to iliopsoas, and:
Rectus femoris
And cranial part of Sartorius
Major Muscles Of Hip
Propulsion group
Protraction (hind limb flexed)
Iliopsoas
Origin: Cranial aspect of the pubic bone.
Insert: lesser trochanter
Sublumbar muscle combination
Psoas major (proximal),
from lumbar vertebre
Iliacus (distal)
From ilium
Powerful Flexor of hip and vertebral column
Tender loin - allow * to slide along . No action
Major Muscles Of Hip
The Medial Group
Adductors of hind limb:
Gracilis
Origin: Symphyseal tendon connective tissue that joint the pelvis
Insert: cranial border of tibia and tuber calcanei
Pectineus*
Origin: Prepubic tendon
Insert: Midway of femur
Hip Dysplasia [Pectineal tenotomy]
Adductors of hind limb:
Adductor
Prevent unwanted abduction
Covered by the gracilis, Semimembranosus
Ext. Obturator (covers obturator foremen)
Sartorius
Arise from iliac crest
2 insertions
Synergist of stifle joint extensors and weight bearing – Quadriceps femoris
In thoracic limb Triceps
Flexion of Hip
External Obturator
Major Muscle Of Hip
medial group
Outward rotator of limb
Close to head of femur – can be palpated
On right tuber ischeii
Follow up ischiatic spine
Clinical Consideration
Femoral Triangle:
Pyramidal space - base lies against the vascular lacuna, & closed distally by sartorius and pectineus muscles (cranial & caudal walls).
Draw blood from vein and inject drug into vein.
Hindlimb – femoral triangle
femoral artery
Vascular lacuna –vessel and nerve found here. From abdomen to the hind limb.
Femoral artery is the first choice for evaluation of the circulation.
Femoral vein is convenient for I/V injections
Nerve endings
Must be under aesthesia
Boarders of triangle:
Pectineus- caudal border,
Sartorius (caudal part) - cranial border
Iliopsoas - craniodorsal border
Major Muscles Of Hip
Deep Group:
Rotate limb laterally
What muscle(s) rotate limb medially??
Internal Obturator (dorsally)
Lateral rotation of thigh
Internal obturator tendon, which crossed gemelli
Bursa (between tendon & lesser ischiatic arch)
Gemelli
lateral rotator of thigh
Quadratus femoris
Articularis coxae
Hip Joint Cavity
Major Muscles Of Hip
The Caudal “hamstring” group:
come back
The caudal part of the thigh. Extend from ischial tuber to both proximal and distal to stifle.
Hamstring group flesh the caudal part of the thigh.
Biceps femoris
Common Calcanean Tendon (CCT)
Action: extend hip, stifle and tarsal
I/M injection (sciatic n) If hit cause temporary paralysis. Give on back muscle instead)
Extend from ischial tuber to both proximal and distal to stifle.
Semitendinosus
I/M injection (sciatic n.??)
Insertion of biceps & semitendinosus are the “String of the ham” (to display meat at butcher-shop)
Popliteal fossa & Lymph node (in the gap)
Semimembranosus
Distal end of the femur
All are to extend joint – Retraction
Most propulsion to animal
Function: Forceful extension of hip
Action on Stifle:
Cranial division (inserting proximal to joint axis)
extends stifle, when foot is planted on the ground.
Caudal division; (inserting distal to joint axis)
same as above, but also flexes the joint when foot is free to move
Common Calcanean tendon attachment:
Common Calcanean Tendon
Part of the Caudal “ hamstring” group
Main function is to extend the calcaneal joint
Common Calcanean tendon attachment:
- Biceps femoris,
- Semitendinosus,
- Gastrocnemius,
- Gracilis,
- SDF (superficial digital flexor)
Soleus muscle (cat): well developed, & major contributors to CCT
- Extends the tarsal joint !!
- Deep digital flexor goes through to the distal phalanges, not to the CCT
Hip Joint
Normal Hip Joint:
Possesses greater range of movement!! Why?
Abduction (dogs cock their legs) when urinating.
Reach most parts of head, neck, and thorax when scratching
Femoral head:
Central fovea for the Intra-capsular ‘ligament of the femoral head’
Transverse Acetabular ligament
- Acetabulum formed by the three bones: ilium, ischium, pubis
1) Ligament of the femoral head, have intra-capsular ligament, attach head of femur, other end to fovea capitis
2) Transverse Acetabular ligament – deep socket, but if shallow or flat, have hip problems
Normal Hip Joint
- Dorsal spine of ilium
- Greater trochanter
Ischial tuber
Femoral head (hip joint)
Attention should be paid to the spacing of these features
Verify symmetry of pelvic girdle (clinical exam.), hip dysplasia
Triangular spacing, needs to be maintained for normal hip movement (configuration)
