Canine Thoracic Limb

att: tuber coxae, ilium, lateral femoral fascia

action: flex hip, extend stifle

att: lateral sacrum, 1st caudal vertebrae, 3rd trochanter

actions: abduct limb, extend hip

caudal most gluteal muscle

• FELINE ONLY
• narrow muscle band between superficial gluteal muscle and biceps femoris muscle of thigh
• function: retraction, abduction of limb , extension of hip, lateral movements of tail when limb fixed

att: iliac crest, gluteal surface, 3rd trochanter

action: extend & abducts hip, roatate pelvic limb medially

where middle gluteal muscle courses over greater trochanter

att: body of ilium, ischiatic spine, greater trochanter

action: extend & abduct hip, rotate pelvic limb medially

completely covered by middle gluteal muscle

deep caudal portion of middle gluteal muscle, separated from main muscle mass

att: pubic symphysis, dorsal ischium & pubis, trochanteric fossa of femur

action: rotates pelvic limb laterally at hip

lateral aspect/ tendon of internal obturator muscle rotates pelvic limb laterally at hip

att: lateral surface of ischium, trochanteric fossa

action: rotates pelvic limb laterally at hip

att: ventral surface of caudal part of ischium, intertrochanteric crest of femur

action: extend hip, rotate pelvic limb laterally

deep to biceps femoris muscle, short & thick, below gemelli muscle

att: ventral surface of pubis & ischium, trochanteric fossa of femur

action: rotates pelvic limb laterally

covers obturator foramen on ventral side/ fan shapped

att: ischiatic tuberosity, patella, cranial tibia, tuber calcanei

action: extend hip, stifle & hock, caudal part flexes stifle

lying in fat at caudal border of biceps femoris, directly caudal to stifle

• tendons of gastrocnemius muscle & SDF mm.
• tendons of semitendinosus, biceps femoris, gracilis mm. form fascial sheath around other 2 tendons, so are considered part of it as well

• deep to biceps femoris muscle
• important to realize location when administering IM injections
• innervates: internal obturator, gemelli, quadratus femoris, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, semimembranosus

att: tuber ischii, caudal rough surface of femur, proximal end of tibia

action: extends hip, part attaching to femur extends stifle, part attaching to tibia flexes or extends stifle

att: tuber ischii, tibial tuberosity, tuber calcanei

action: extends hip & hock, flexes stifle

cranial part: att: crest of ilium, patella; action: extends stifle

caudal part: att: tuber coxae, cranial tibia; action: flex stifle

BOTH: flex hip

att: pubic symphysis, cranial tibia, tuber calcanei

action: adduct limb, flex stifle, extend hip & hock

caudal/medial aspect of limb

• located on proximal medial surface of thigh with its base at abdominal wall
• contains femoral artery & vein
• pulse usually taken from artery here
• 3 palpable borders: cranial border=caudal border of sartorius muscle; caudal border=pectineus muscle; dorsal border= iliopsoas muscle

• thick, flat, attached ventrally to pubic symphysis
• gracilis muscle arises from this

att: iliopubic eminence, caudal rough face of femur

action: adduct limb

medial aspect, small/spindle-shaped

att: pubic symphysis, ischiatic arch, caudal rough face of femur

action: adduct limb, extend hip

large pyramidal muscle, between pectineus and semimembranosus

• rectus femoris m.: arises from ilium, so only one with action on coxofemoral joint (flexes hip)
• vastus lateralis m.
• vastus intermedius m.
• vastus medialis m.
• all vastus arise from proximal femur
• all 4 attach on tibial tuberosity
• MOST powerful extensor of stifle & necessary for animal to support its weight, flexes hip
• anti-gravity m.

• sesamoid bone that articulates with trochlea of femur
• intercalated in strong tendon of insertion of quadriceps femoris m.

• att: patella, tibial tuberosity
• distal end of tendon of insertion of quadriceps femoris m.

att: fusion of psoas muscle (lumbar vertebrae) & iliacus mm. (cranioventral ilium), lesser trochanter

action: MAJOR flexor of hip

att: extensor groove of tibia, plantar surface base of metatarsals 1 & 2

action: flex tarsus when acting with peroneus longus muscle, supinate tarsus when working alone

att: extensor fossa of femur, extensor process of distal phalanges of digits 2-5

action: extend digits, flex tarsus

binds down long digital extensor m. and cranial tibial m.

att: lateral condyle of tibia, proximal end fibula, lateral epicondyle of femur, 4th tarsal bone on plantar surface

action: flex tarsus when working with cranial tibial muscle, pronate tarsus when working alone

cranial tibial muscle and peroneus longus muscle