Gross Comparative Anatomy of Domestic Animals
Gross Comparative Anatomy of Domestic Animals
Gross Comparative Anatomy of Domestic Animals
Anatomy of
Domestic Animals
Central Mindanao University,
University Town, Musuan, Bukidnon
Parietal Bone
Together with the frontal bone, it forms the roof of the cranial cavity (except in cattle and pig).
Zygomatic Arch
The bony arch forming the lateral wall of the orbit. It consist of the temporal process of the
zygomatic bone and zygomatic process of the temporal bone.
Supraorbital Foramen
Opening located at the frontal bone (Absent in dogs).
Cornual Process
The processes of the frontal bone of horned ruminants that is enclosed by the horn
Animal Skull
Dog Three types of skulls relative to the proportion of the
facial bones and cranial
vault (craniometry):
• Dolicocephalic-has larger facial compartment (Collie)
• Mesaticephalic - average conformation (Beagle)
• Brachcephalic-shorter facial compartment (Pug)
*Diastema is the physiologic gap between the incisors and cheek teeth.
Lingual Process
the rostral projection of the basihyoid bone int the tongue. Horse has long
lingual process while short in ox.
Common Foramina of the Skull
Openings Comparative Notes
Hypoglossal canal Often double in the ox: foramen in the horse.
Vertebral Formula
Animal C T L S Cd
Horse 7 18 6 5 15-21
Cattle 7 13 6 5 18-20
Carabao 7 13 6 4 14-18
Sheep 7 13 6-7 4 16-18
Goat 7 13 7 4 12
Dog 7 13 7 3 20-24
Pig 7 14-15 6-7 4 20-23
Bird 14-17 5-7 L/S 12 5-6
Axis
Its spinous process
Animal Axis
Dog Dens are typically tooth-like
Cattle Dens are characteristically spout-shaped.
Sheep Dens are characteristically spout-shaped
Horse Spinous process is bifid
Pig Dens are shorts and has high spine directed posteriorly
*The remaining cervical vertebrae are similar to one another, with small spinous processes, and rather large
transverse and articular processes.
**In equine, the 6th cervical vertebra, has a trifid transverse process, while other animals have a well developed
ventral plate that contains the muscular groove.
Atlas
The spinous process is absent.
Animal Atlas
Dog Alar foramen is absent, instead there is alar notch or incisures.
Cattle Transverse foramen is absent.
Sheep Transverse foramen is absent, The wings of atlas project posteriorly.
Horse Three foramina are present, the transverse, alar and intervertebral
Pig Transverse foramen is situated in posterior border of wing.
Thoracic Vertebrae
Normally 13 in number and characterized by tall spinous processes and short bodies.
*anticlinal is the most vertically oriented spine, All spines cranial to this vertebra are inclined caudally, all
spines caudal to it inclined cranially.
Lumbar Vertebrae
Have large, flat or plate-like transverse processes that project laterad.
They can be distinguish from the last thoracic vertebrae by the lack of costal facets. The
4th, 5th and 6th transverse process of horse' lumbar vertebrae articulate with each other.
Lumbar vertebrae has an accessory and mammillary process aside from the other
processes present in other vertebra in the vertebral column.
Animal Sacral Vertebrae
Dog 3 separate spines (unfused spinous process)
Horse 5 separate spines. (unfused spinous process)
Cattle Spinal process are fused to form the median sacral crest
Birds Fused lumbosacral called synsacrum
Floating Ribs
No connection with the sternum, no cartilage when present, it is usually the last rib and found only
in the dog and man.
Appendicular Skeleton
The thoracic limb has no bony nnection to the trunk, only being attached by duscles (synsarcosis).
Scapula
The scapula (shoulder blade) in all animals is a relatively flat, triangular bone.
Supraglenoid tubercle
Is the process near the cranial aspect of glenoid cavity for the attachment of biceps brachli
muscle
Animal Scapula
Dog Spine bisects lateral surface; distinct acromion; no coracoid and glenoid notch;
narrow scapular cartilage*
Cattle distinctly triangular; unequal fossae (supra is smaller than infra); no notch in
glenoid cavity; broad scapular cartilage.
Sheep Coracoid process is absent
Horse Spine fades distally; unequal fossae (supra is smaller than infra); no acromion;
Trapezius tubercle is present; broad scapular cartilage.
Pig Rhomboid shape; no acromion; Prominent trapezius tubercle overhanging
Infraspinous fossa; narrow scapular cartilage.
Cat Distinctly triangular. Has the suprahamate process ***
Radial P P P P
Intermediate A P P P
Ulnar P P P P
Accessory P P P P
1 P A A P
2 P P P
FUSED
3 P P P
4 P P P P
Total 7 7 6 8
* the radial carpal bone in dog is regarded as fused radial and intermediate carpal bones
Animal Metacarpals
Dog Metacarpals 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5; All metacarpals bear digits; digit 1 possesses only 2
phalanges.
Ruminant Metacarpals 3 and 4 are fused and weight bearing (also known as the cannon
bone); 5th is vestigial; 1st and 2nd are missing.
Horse Only 3rd metacarpal is functional (cannon bone); 2nd and 4th (splint bones) are
vestigial.
Pig Metacarpals 2, 3, 4, and 5; all metacarpals bear digits; 3rd and 4th are
functional.
Avian Distal row of carpal bones fused with the proximal end of metacarpals and
termed carpometacarpal bones, of which there are 3.
Digits
One to five from medial to lateral.(proximal phalanx, middle phalanx, and distal phalanx).
In the ruminant, the proximal phalanx is also called the long pastern bone; the middle phalanx corresponds to the
short pastern bone; and distal phalanx is also known as the coffin bone.
Animal Digits
Dog Has four main weight-bearing digits; 1st digit and 1st metacarpal bone
is the dewclaw. Some dog breeds have double dewclaws.
Ruminant Four digits, 2 weight-bearing digits (3rd and 4th) and 2 non- weight-
bearing digits (2nd and 5th). First digit is missing.
Horse 3rd digit only: long pastern, short pastern and coffin bone. Distal
sesamoid bone is called navicular bone.
Pig Four digits, 2 weight-bearing digits (3rd and 4th) and 2 non- weight-
bearing digits (2nd and 5th). First digit is missing.
Chicken Digit one has two phalanges, digit two has three, digit three has four,
and digit four has five.
Take note! In mammals, each digit has 2 proximal and 1 distal sesamoid bones.
Animal Os coxae
Dog Gluteal surface faces laterally; Wing of ilium distinctly concave has more than
one gluteal line; Tuber sacrale is widely separated and higher than the tuber
coxae.
Cattle Gluteal surface faces dorsally; Wing of illum has one gluteal line; Three
prominences on schiatic tuber; obturator foramen is wide and sharp medially;
pelvic symphysis has distinct ventral ridge.
Sheep As in bovine; long axis of ilium and ischium. form a nearly straight line.
Horse Gluteal surface faces dorsally; Wing of ilium has one gluteal line; Tuber sacrale is
higher than the tuber coxae.
Pig Gluteal surface faces laterally; Wing of ilium has one gluteal line; Wing of ilium
divided Into two fossae by distinct gluteal line; Tuber sacrale is widely separated.
Lateral wall of the pelvic cavity is formed by the broad ligament in the pig, cattle and horse while is formed by the
sacrotuberous ligament in the dog.
Femur
Heaviest and the largest bone of the skeletal system.
Patellar surface or femoral trochlea
Two ridges, the medial being thicker in all species.
Fabella
Found at the origin of the medial and lateral parts of the gastrocnemius in the dog only.
Sesamoid associated with the popliteus muscle
Also only in the dog
Animal Femur
Dog Shaft is cylindrical; Greater trochanter is at the same level as the femoral head.
Ruminant Greater trochanter is higher than the femoral head; Third trochanter is absent.
Horse Greater trochanter is divided into cranial and caudal parts and higher than the
femoral head; Trochlear tubercle* is present; has supracondylar fossa**
Pig Shaft distinctly quadrilateral; Greater trochanter is at the same level as the femoral
head.
Fabella
The fibula (calf bone), which is much smaller, lies on the lateral side of the leg.
Talus P P P P
Calcaneus P P P P
TOTAL 7 6 5 7
Fibrous Joints
Have no joint cavity. The bones are united by fibrous tissue.
* Syndesmosis - a joint united by fibrous tissue that permits only slight movement. The normal union of the
shafts of the splint bones and cannon bone of the horse is an example of syndesmosis.
* Suture -is a particular fibrous joint between bones of the skull. Sutures often completely ossify in maturity.
* Gomphosis the specialized articulation of - teeth in their alveoll (sockets) in the mandible and maxilla.
Cartilaginous Joint
United by cartilage.
Arthrology
* Synchondrosis - an immovable joint in which the uniting medium is hyaline cartilage. The union of the diaphysis
and epiphysis of an immature bone (its physis or growth plate) is an example of synchondrosis
* Symphyses (fibrocartilaginous joints) - united by flattened disks of fibrocartilage as found between adjacent
pelvic bones and between the bodies of adjacent vertebrae and sternebrae.
* Synostosis-when the fibrous or cartilaginous tissues separating adjacent bones in syndesmoses,
synchondroses, and symphyses can be replaced by bone as a result of either aging or degenerative processes.
Synovial joint (diarthrodial)
The uniting medium is a joint capsule. Have similar general structure, which includes articular
surfaces, articular cartilages, articular cavity, joint capsule, and ligaments.
Ligament
Connective tissue bands that extend from bone to bone.
Tendons
Connective tissue bands that connect muscle to bone.
Types of Ligaments:
1. Intracapsular (intra-articular) ligaments- found within joints and are surrounded by the synovial
membrane (cruciate ligaments of the stifle).
2. Extracapsular (periarticular) ligaments-
* Collateral ligaments- lie on the medial and lateral aspects of a joint.
Arthrology
* Dorsal and palmar (or plantar) ligaments - lie in front of and behind the joint.
* Annular ligaments- surround the joint, and their fibers generally circle the joint to
strengthen and protect the capsule.
Clinical Notes!
“Accessory ligament of the head of femur" -ligament found only in (horse, It stabilizes the hip that
makes it harder for a horse to kick to the side (unlike in ), but doesn't prevent it.
Species Comparative Notes - Facial Expression
Dog Well-developed platysma; levator anguli occulimedialis is most
developed among species; retractor anguli occuli is found only in
dog.
Ruminant Platysma is absent; depressor labii maxillaris is present; levator
anguli occulimedialis is replaced by frontalis muscle.
Horse Platysma is absent.
Pig Well-developed platysma; depressor labii maxillaris is present.
Species Sternocephalicus
Dog sternooccipitalis and sternomastoideus
Cattle & Goat sternomandibularis andsternomastoideus
Sheep sternomastoideus
Horse sternomandibularis
Pig sternomastoideus
Brachiocephalicus
It raises and advances the shoulder. It is the principal extensor of the shoulder and acts as a
lateral flexor of the neck when the limb is weight bearing.
It is subdivided into the cleidobrachialis, extending from the clavicular tendon (representing
the vestigial clavicle) to the humerus, and the cleidocephalicus, extending from the
clavicular tendon to the head and neck. Cleidocephalicus may be further subdivided into a
mastoid part attaching to the mastoid process of the temporal bone and either an occipital
part (in ruminants and pigs) or a cervical part (in carnivores).
Animal Brachiocephalicus
Dog Cleidobrachialis, cleidocervicalis and cleidomastoideus
Ruminant Cleidobrachialis, cleidooccipitalis and cleidomastoideus.
Horse Cleidobrachialis and cleidomastoideus.
Pig Cleidobrachialis, cleidoóccipitalis and cleidomastoideus.
Animal Deltoideus
Dog There are acromial and scapular parts
Ruminant There are acromial and scapular parts
Horse Two parts are fused, without a distinct acromion
Pig Two parts are fused, without a distinct. acromion.
Animal Subclavius
Dog Absent
Ruminant Poorly-developed
Horse Well-developed
Pig Well-developed
*in ruminant, one of these heads gives rise to its own tendon that inserts on the third digit. This head of the
common digital extensor is sometimes identified as a separate muscle, the medial digital extensor muscle.
Lateral Digital Extensor
Is found in all species. p.. It The origin is on the lateral collateral ligament of the elbow and lateral radius and
ulna. The insertion varies according to the number of digits present.
2. Superficial digital flexor-- similar to the deep digital flexor but It Inserts primarily on the proximal part of the middle phalanx
of each digit.
Animal Superficial Digital Flexor
Dog Tendon of Insertion divides into 4
Cat Tendon of insertion divides into 5
Ruminant Very tendinous; Tendon of insertion divides into 2
Horse Very tendinous; undivided tendon and provided with an accessory ligament
Pig Tendon of Insertion divides into 2
Interosseous - lie between the metacarpal bones of carnivores and humans. It is muscular in pigs and dogs
Muscles acting on the hip joint
Extensors of the hip
Hamstring muscles - chief extensors of the hip. They include the biceps femoris (the most lateral of the caudal
muscles of the thigh), the semitendinosus (the middle muscle of the caudal group), and the semimembranosus
(the medial muscle of this group).
Ruminant It has short (ischiatic) and long. (vertebral) heads; combines with superficial
gluteal muscle thus called gluteobiceps
Horse It has short (ischiatic) and long (vertebral) heads.
Animal Semitendinosus
Dog Ischiatic head only
Ruminant Ischiatic head only
Horse Both ischiatic and vertebral head are present
Pig Both ischiatic and vertebral head are present
Animal Semimembranosus
Dog Muscle belly divides into 2
Ruminant Muscle belly divides into 2
Horse Only vertebral head is present
Pig Muscle belly divides into 2
Sartorius
Is a thin, straplike muscle that extends from the tuber coxae to the
tibia, diagonally crossing the medial surface of the thigh. It is divided
into two distinct parts in dogs, sartorius cranialis and sartorius
caudalis.
Animal Superficial Gluteal
Ruminant Fused with the cranial portion of the biceps femoris to form
gluteobiceps.
Horse Connected to the tensor fascia latae
Porcine Fused with the cranial potion of the biceps femoris to form
gluteobiceps.
Quadratus femoris
is an adductor of the thigh. Are outward rotators of the thigh. They include the
internal and external obturator muscles and the gemelli. Ruminants lack the internal
obturator muscle.
Animal Adductor
Dog Adductor magnus and adductor brevis are separate.
Ruminant Two muscles are fused forming adductor magnus et brevis.
Horse Adductor magnus and adductor brevis are separate.
Pig Two muscles are fused forming adductor magnus et brevis
Soleus
blends distally with the lateral head of the gastrocnemius. Absent in
dog and mostly developed in pigs.
Peroneus longus
located just cranial to the fibula. It acts to pronate the foot. Absent in horse.
Peroneus longus
the only named peroneal muscle in horse.
Long digital extensor
Animal Long digital extensor
Dog Tendon divides into 4 (D2, D3, D4, and D5)
Ruminant Has medial and lateral bellies; medial Inserts on D3 while
lateral inserts on D3 and D4
Horse Only 1 belly and inserts in D3.
Pig Has 3 bellies (medial, middle and lateral); tendon of medial
divides into 2. (D3 and D4)
Lateral digital extensor
lies between the extensor and flexor groups of muscles of the crus.
Other Muscles:
Short digital extensor-well-developed in carnivores and pigs
Short digital flexor - found only in carnivores
Lumbricales - found only in carnivores and horses
Interflexorius - found only in carnivores Interosseus- same like in the thoracic limb
Quadratus planate- only in carnivores, mostly developed in cats