An overview of the anatomy of

the canine forelimb.

Darren Kelly
Artwork by Paddy Lennon
Original photos courtesy of Mary Ferguson

Students at University College Dublin, School of

Veterinary Medicine.

Tuesday 2 October 12
Tuesday 2 October 12
Tuesday 2 October 12
Tuesday 2 October 12
Tuesday 2 October 12
 Lateral View of Shoulder
and Brachial Region.

1. Supraspinatus

2. Spine of Scapula

3. Infraspinatus

4 and 4’. Deltoids

5. Teres Major

6, 6’ and 6’’. Triceps

7. Biceps Brachii

Tuesday 2 October 12
 Muscle Origin Insertion Innervation Function
Extend &
Supraspinous
Supraspinatus Greater Tubercle Suprascapular Nerve Stabilise Shoulder
Fossa
Joint

Infraspinous Stabilise Shoulder

Infraspinatus Greater Tubercle Suprascapular Nerve
Fossa Joint

Scapula
Deltoid Flex Shoulder
Deltoids Spine and Axillary Nerve
Tuberosity Joint
Acromion
Caudal
Teres Major Flex Shoulder
Teres Major Border of Axillary Nerve
Tuberosity Joint
Scapula
Caudal Border Flex Shoulder
Triceps of Scapula and Olecranon Radial Nerve Joint & Extend
Tricipital Crest Elbow Joint
Extend Shoulder
Biceps Supraglenoid Musculocutaneous
Radial Tuberosity Joint & Flex
Brachii Tubercle Nerve
Elbow Joint

Tuesday 2 October 12
 There are no strong ligaments present in the shoulder joint,
but the tendons of insertion of the supraspinatus and
infraspinatus act to prevent dislocation of this joint. Damage
to the suprascapular nerve which innervates these muscles
causes them to atrophy giving rise to the clinical condition
known as ‘Sweeney’ where the scapular spine becomes
prominent.This condition is most frequently seen in the
horse. Notice the prominent scapular spine of the horse in
the following video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qepjRAQBGoE

In the dog, the triceps actually has four heads; lateral, medial,
long and accessory. All come together to insert on the
olecranon of the ulna.

Tuesday 2 October 12
Tuesday 2 October 12
 Lateral view of Shoulder
and Brachial Region.

The Deltoids have been

removed.

1. Supraspinatus

2. Infraspinatus

3. Teres Major

4. Lateral Head of Triceps

5. Long Head of Triceps

Tuesday 2 October 12
Tuesday 2 October 12
 Medial View of Shoulder
and Brachial Region.

1. Subscapularis

2. Teres Major

3. Part of Brachial Plexus

4. Biceps Brachii

5. Long Head of Triceps

6. Medial Head of Triceps

Tuesday 2 October 12
 The Brachial Plexus gives rise to the nerves of the
forelimb.

It is formed from contributions of the spinal nerves

C6, C7, C8, T1 and T2. In some individuals the spinal
nerves at either end of the series may not
contribute.

The Brachial Plexus is located just cranial to the first

rib and on the medial aspect of the shoulder joint.

Tuesday 2 October 12
Tuesday 2 October 12
 Lateral view of
Shoulder Region
1. Supraspinatus 2. Spine of Scapula

3. Infraspinatus 4. Teres Major

5. Brachialis 6. Radial Nerve

Tuesday 2 October 12
 In the last image the biceps, triceps and deltoids
have been removed.

We can now see the small brachialis muscle. This

muscle originates on the caudal aspect of the
humerus and curves around to insert on the cranial
aspect of the radius. It in innervated by the
musculocutaneous nerve and acts as a flexor of the
elbow joint.

The radial nerve can also be seen in the previous

image traveling from a medial to lateral position.

Tuesday 2 October 12
Tuesday 2 October 12
 Cranial aspect of the
Antebrachium

1. Ulnaris Lateralis 2. Lateral Digital Extensor

3. Common Digital Extensor 4. Extensor Carpi Radialis

Tuesday 2 October 12
 Muscle Origin Insertion Innervation Function

Lateral Accessory Carpal Can both flex

Ulnaris
Epicondyle of Bone and most Radial Nerve and extend the
Lateralis
Humerus Lateral Metacarpal Carpal Joint

Lateral
Lateral Digital Proximal Phalanx Extend Carpal
Epicondyle of Radial Nerve
Extensor of Digits 4 and 5 Joint and Digits
Humerus

Common Lateral Extensor Process

Extend Carpal
Digital Epicondyle of of Distal Phalanx of Radial Nerve
Joint and Digits
Extensor Humerus Digits 2, 3, 4 and 5

Lateral Extend Carpal

Extensor
Epicondyle of Metacarpals 2 & 3 Radial Nerve Joint
Carpi Radialis
Humerus

Tuesday 2 October 12
 Notice how the four muscles shown in the previous
picture which are located on the cranial aspect of the
antebrachium, all originate from the lateral epicondyle
of the humerus and are all innervated by the radial
nerve.

Because all of these extensor muscle are innervated by

the radial nerve, if it is damaged or severed by trauma
etc. at a point proximal to where it innervates the
muscles the clinical condition known as ‘knuckling’ can
be seen. The dog tends to walk with the dorsal aspect
of the paw in contact with the ground due to the
inability to extend the carpal joint.

Tuesday 2 October 12
 The following is a link to a youtube video of a dog with
damage to the left radial nerve. Notice the ‘knuckling’
gait as the dog is unable to extend the carpus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBK8VYERry8

Tuesday 2 October 12
 A sesamoid bone is a very small bone which
develops in the tendon of a muscle as it crosses a
joint.

A sesamoid bone is found in each of the 4 tendons

of insertion of the common digital extensor.
Remember the common digital extensor inserts
onto the distal phalanx of digits 2, 3, 4 and 5 so it
must have 4 tendons of insertion. These sesamoid
bones are known as the dorsal sesamoids and are
located dorsal to the metacarpophalangeal joints.

Tuesday 2 October 12
 On the ventral aspect of metacarpals 2, 3, 4 and 5 we
also see the interosseous muscles. The tendons of the
interosseous muscles of each metacarpal contain two
sesamoid bones. These are also found at the
metacarpophalangeal joints but on the ventral aspect
and are known as the proximal sesamoids.

So digits 2, 3, 4 and 5 each contain a total of three

sesamoid bones at the metacarpophalangeal joint, one
dorsal sesamoid and two proximal sesamoids.

Can you spot any of the sesamoid bones in this

radiograph?

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Tuesday 2 October 12
 The most medial digit, digit 1, is different from the
other four.

It only has two phalanges, the other digits have three.

It has one sesamoid bone, a proximal sesamoid on the

ventral aspect of its metacarpophalangeal joint.
Another small sesamoid bone can be found in the
tendon of insertion of the abductor pollicus longus
muscles which acts on digit 1. This sesamoid bone may
be seen approximately between the two rows of
carpal bones on the medial side.

Tuesday 2 October 12
Tuesday 2 October 12
 Cranial aspect of the
Antebrachium

1. Ulnaris Lateralis 2. Lateral Digital Extensor

3. Common Digital Extensor 4. Extensor Carpi Radialis

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Tuesday 2 October 12
 Caudal aspect of the
Antebrachium

1. Superficial Digital Flexor

2. Flexor Carpi Radialis

3. Flexor Carpi Ulnaris

Tuesday 2 October 12
Tuesday 2 October 12
 Caudal aspect of the
Antebrachium

1. Superficial Digital Flexor (moved aside)

2. Deep Digital Flexor

3. Flexor Carpi Radialis

Tuesday 2 October 12
 Muscle Origin Insertion Innervation Function
Medial Palmer aspect of
Superficial Median and Ulnar Flex Digits and
Epicondyle of Middle Phalanx of
Digital Flexor Nerves Carpal Joint
Humerus Digits 2, 3, 4 & 5

Medial Epicondyle
Palmer aspect of
Deep Digital of Humerus and Median and Ulnar Flex Digits and
caudal-medial Distal Phalanx of
Flexor aspect of Radius Digits 2, 3, 4 & 5 Nerves Carpal Joint
and Ulna

Medial
Flexor Carpi Accessory Carpal Median and Ulnar Flex Carpal
Epicondyle of
Ulnaris bone Nerves Joint
Humerus

Medial
Flexor Carpi Metacarpals 2 Median and Ulnar Flex Carpal
Epicondyle of
Radialis and 3 Nerves Joint
Humerus

Tuesday 2 October 12
 Notice that all of the flexor muscle shown in the
previous picture, which lie on the caudal aspect of the
antebrachium, originate from the medial epicondyle of
the humerus and are innervated by the median and
ulnar nerves.

The deep digital flexor of the dog has three heads, thus
its three places of origin as seen in the previous table.
The heads deep digital flexor can be found deep to the
superficial digital flexor.

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Tuesday 2 October 12
 Caudal aspect of the paw.

Between the prongs of the

forceps lies the flexor
retinaculum, a thickening of
the deep fascia found on the
caudal aspect of the paw. It
act to give support to the
flexor tendons.

An extensor retinaculum can

be seen on the dorsal aspect
of the paw.

Tuesday 2 October 12