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HRA Golden Spur Exam > The Skeleton > Flashcards

The Skeleton Flashcards

1
Q

As a horse-owner, why is it important to have some knowledge of the equine skeleton?

A
  • To have awareness of bony areas so we don’t hurt the horse/damage them.
  • To identify the area (eg. where a wound is found).
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2
Q

What is the purpose of the skeleton?

A

It is the framework of the body. It gives shape, protects vital organs, and is a solid base for ligaments/muscles/tendons.

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3
Q

How many bones are there in an adult horse’s body?

A

Approx. 205 (plus cartilage and ligaments).

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4
Q

What is the equine skeleton split into?

A

Two sections:
- Axial (Skull, spine, sternum, ribs)
- Appendicular (Fore and hind limbs)

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5
Q

Name the main 8 parts of the skull.

A
  • Occipital bone
  • Cranium
  • Zygomatic process
  • Orbit
  • Facial bones
  • Nasal bone
  • Maxilla
  • Mandible
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6
Q

What is the occipital bone?

A

At the back of the skull, it forms a joint with the top part of the neck.

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7
Q

What is the cranium?

A

The bone which surrounds the brain.

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8
Q

What is the zygomatic proccess?

A

An arch of strong, prominent bone below the eye, which gives further protection.

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9
Q

What is the orbit?

A

The cavity the eye lies in, in the skull.

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10
Q

What is the maxilla?

A

The upper jaw. Together with the mandible, it contains the teeth.

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11
Q

What is the mandible?

A

The lower jaw. It’s hinged between the ear and eye to provide motion for chewing. It is one of the larger bones in the body.

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12
Q

What are the five sections of the spine, and the numbers of vertebrae in each?

A

The cervical (7), thoracic (18), lumbar (6), sacral (5), coccygeal (15-20: 18 average).

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13
Q

How many ribs does a horse have?

A

18 pairs, each pair connected to a thoracic vertebrae.

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14
Q

What are the first two bones in the cervical veterbrae?

A

1) The atlas, which supports the skull and allows for the nodding movements of the head.
2) The axis, which allows rotational movement.

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15
Q

Describe the structure of the lumbar vertebrae.

A

The 6 vertebrae are large and rigid to cope with the transfer of thrust from the horse’s hind limbs.

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16
Q

What is the sternum?

A

A flat, boat-shaped bone which forms the lower part of the rib cage.

17
Q

Describe the structure of the sacral vertebrae.

A

The 5 vertebrae are fused and joined together to form part of the hip girdle.

18
Q

Describe the general structure of a singular vertebrae.

A
  • Most vertebrae are shaped like a cross.
  • The vertebral body forms an arch called the neural arch.
  • Above this is a bony projection called the dorsal spinous process, which provides an attachment for the supraspinous ligament. This is one of a group of ligaments and muscles that hold the vertebrae together.
  • The spinous processes also act as anchorage for muscles which hold other bones in place (eg. the muscle which overlies the scapula).
  • On each side of the vertebra are the transverse processes.
19
Q

What is the sternum?

A

A flat, boat-shaped bone which forms the lower part of the rib cage.

20
Q

Describe the differences between different spinal vertebrae.

A
  • In different parts of the spine, the vertebrae vary in shape and size because each section has a different function and is subject to different stresses.
  • Both the dorsal spinous and transverse processes vary in size and length.
  • The processes of the cervical vertebrae are much smaller to allow for greater movement in this area.
  • The dorsal spinous processes are longest in the wither region of the thoracic section to provide more anchorage for the muscles.
  • The transverse processes are long and wide in the lumbar region.
21
Q

What is between each vertebrae?

A

An inter-vertebral disc: a flat shaped piece of cartilage which is slightly compressible.

22
Q

What is the hole within each vertebra called?

A

The spinal or vertebral canal.

23
Q

What are the main functions of the spine?

A
  • It connects the head and limbs, and provides strength to support the weight of the body.
  • It holds in place and protects the spinal cord. The cord passes through the vertebral canal, and contains the nerves running from the brain to all parts of the body.
  • Neves emerge from the cord, and pass between the vertebrae at intervals and onto various parts of the body.
24
Q

Describe the structure of the ribs.

A
  • The ribs curve round and protect the heart and lung area. They are thin flat bones.
  • There are 8 pairs of ‘true’ ribs, which connect directly to the sternum.
  • There are 10 pairs of ‘false’ ribs which are connected to the sternum by strips of cartilage only.
  • The ribs are able to move slightly, in and out, to allow expansion and contraction of the lungs when breathing.
25
Q

How are the appendicular and axial skeleton joined?

A

Not by bone, but by muscles and ligaments.

26
Q

What are the main bones of the foreleg?

A
  • Scapula
  • Humerus
  • Ulna
  • Radius
  • Carpus
  • Pisiform
  • Splint
  • Cannon
  • Seasmoids
  • Long pastern
  • Short pastern
  • Pedal
  • Navicular
27
Q

What are the main joints of the foreleg?

A
  • The scapula and humerus form the point of the shoulder.
  • Elbow joint (Humerus and radius/ulna). The point of the elbow is formed by the ulna, a short bone fused to the radius.
  • Knee joint (carpus and pisiform)
  • Fetlock (Cannon and long pastern)
  • Pastern (Long and short pastern)
  • Coffin (pedal and short pastern)
28
Q

How do the scapulae join to the spine?

A
  • As the horse has no collar bone, the scapula is joined to the spine by muscles and ligaments.
  • The front part of the ribcage and it’s internal organs are held in a sling of muscle (called the thoracic sling) which is attached to the spine and scapulae.
  • This is designed so the 2 scapulae have freedom of movement, and that concussion transmitted from the forelegs is absorbed by muscle, tendons and ligaments around the shoulder.
29
Q

Explain the structure of the knee joint.

A

The knee joint is made up of the carpus and pisiform bones (7 total) to allow for a lot of movement. There are 6 small carpus bones (3 on top of 3) and the pisiform bone behind.

30
Q

What are the splint bones?

A
  • Two bones that start below the knee joint on the inner and outer aspect of the cannon, and stretch down to 2/3 length of the cannon bone.
31
Q

Name the bones of the hind leg.

A
  • Pelvis
  • Femur
  • Patella
  • Fibula
  • Tibia
  • Tarsus
  • Os Calcis
  • Cannon
  • Seasmoids
  • Long pastern
  • Short pastern
  • Pedal
  • Navicular
32
Q

What are the main joints of the hind leg?

A
  • Hip (Pelvis and femur)
  • Stifle joint (Femur and tib/fib)
  • Hock joint (5 small tarsus bones and the os calcis).
  • Fetlock (Cannon and long pastern)
  • Pastern (Long and short pastern)
  • Coffin (pedal and short pastern)
33
Q

Describe the structure and role of the pelvis.

A
  • The pelvic girdle is made up of the ilium, ischium and pubis: three bones which in the adult horse are fused together.
  • The pelvis is tightly attached to the lumbar and sacral vertebrae by the sacroiliac ligaments. forming the sacroiliac joints.
  • Through this close attachment to the spine, the pelvis is extremely rigid and is able to transfer propulsion from the hind limbs to the trunk of the body.
  • It also protects the uterus in mares.
  • At the top of the pelvis, the tuber sacrale forms the point of croup. At the back, the ischium forms the point of buttock.
34
Q

Describe the structure of the fibula and tibia.

A

The fibula is fused to the tibia, and runs down half of its length.

35
Q

What are the three types of joints?

A
  • Immovable (eg. skull)
  • Slightly moveable (eg. spine)
  • Freely moveable
36
Q

What are the types of freely moveable joints?

A

1) Hinge (eg. fetlock)
2) Pivot (atlas and axis)
3) Ball and socket (eg. femur and pelvis)
4) Plane - where flat surfaced bones move over each other (eg. carpus bones of the knee)

37
Q

What are ligaments?

A
  • Tough, fibrous bands that connect bone to bone, holding them together and in place. They are elastic to a point, allowing normal movement at the joints, but not excessive.
  • The horse has developed another type of ligament: the ‘check ligaments’, which connect some bones and tendons. These are present in the limbs and in conjunction with various muscles and tendons form part of the horse’s ‘stay mechanism’. They lock the limbs and joints so the horse can sleep standing.
38
Q

What are tendons?

A
  • They connect muscle to bone and help to control the movement of bones at joints.
  • This is shown particularly in both the fore and hind limbs where there are no muscles below the knee/hock. All the movement of the pastern and foot is transferred by tendons connected to muscles in the upper limbs and body.
39
Q

What is cartilage?

A

A smooth, flexible substance found in joints, which helps to prevent friction.

HRA Golden Spur Exam (16 decks)

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