Summary: Anatomy: Hindlimb

Read the summary and the most important questions on Anatomy: Hindlimb

• 1 Muscles

• What muscles contribute to the extension of the body?

  1. Longissimus
  2. Ileocostalis
  3. Transversospinalis

• What muscles contribute to the flexion of the body?

  1. Rectus abdominis
  2. Abdominal obliques
  3. Iliopsoas

• What is the action of the muscle at joints?

  They rotate or stabilize.

• 1.1 Muscles of the lumbar

• What are the muscles of the girdle?

  1. Psoas minor: tilts pelvis, from thoracolumbar vertebrae, inserts at lesser trochanter
  2. Psoas major: flexes hip, from lumbar vertebrae, inserts at ilium
  3. Iliacus: flexes hip, from wing of ilium and sacrum, inserts at lesser trochanter 
  4. Iliopsoas: iliacus + psoas major, flexes hip and stabilizes it

• 1.2 Muscles of the rump and thigh

• What is the femoral triangle?

  It is a triangle that is made up of:
  1. Edge of aponeurosis of external abdominal oblique
  2. Sartorius
  3. Pectineus

• Why is the femoral triangle so important?

  In that small area, it contains the external iliac, the femoral artery, and the femoral vein.

• Where are the two distinct bursae in the thigh regions?

  1. Trochanteric bursa: above cranial aspect of the greater trochanter of the femur in horses
  2. Bicipital bursa: in stifle of the sheep

• 1.2.1 Gluteal

• What are the gluteal muscles?

  1. Superficial gluteal: hip extensor, from sacrum to greater trochanter, more caudal
  2. Middle gluteal: hip extensor, from ilium to greater trochanter, more caudal
  3. Tensor fascia latae: tightens fascia around stifle to support joint and flex hip, from tuber coxae to fascia lata on stifle
  4. Accessory gluteal (LA only): Hip stabilizer, on cranial part of greater trochanter of femur on top of trochanteric bursa
  5. Deep gluteal: abduct limb, extend hip and rotate medially, from ilium to greater trochanter

• 1.2.2 Caudal

• What are the caudal muscles?

  1. Biceps femoris: extends hip and tarsus, extend/flex stifle, from ischial tuber/sacrotuberous ligament to patella, stifle, calcaneus
  2. Semitendinosus: flex stifle, extend hip and tarsus, from ischium to tibia and calcaneus
  3. Semimembranosus: flex stifle, extend hip and stifle, from ischium to femur and tibia. In sheep it is J shaped and a hip extensor only
  4. Gluteobiceps (in sheep): fusion of superficial gluteal and biceps in ruminants

• What is the order of the caudal muscles from lateral to medial?

  1. Biceps femoris
  2. Semitendinosus
  3. Semimembranosus