Canine Hindlimb Anatomy

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Introduction

The hindlimb skeleton of the canine includes the pelvic girdle, consisting of the fused ilium, ischium, and pubis, and the bones of the hindlimb. The size of hindlimb bones varies due to the significant variation in size for breeds of dogs.

Osteology of Pelvic Limb

The Pelvic limb bears 40-45% of the weight and provides the majority of the propulsion for locomotion.

Os coxae

• Tuber coxae end tubes sacrale both palpable
• Tuber ischii underneath hamstrings

Femur

• Greater trochanter lateral to the head of the humerus
• Lesser trochanter distal to head of humerus
• Trochanteric fossa: Caudal depression  between  the  trochanters
• Third trochanter: Lateral aspect distal to greater trochanter
• Extensor fossa. depression on lat condyle for insertion of long digital

extensor.

Femoral trochlea: Groove on cran femur for articulating with patella bound by two ridges of which the medial is thicker.

Fabellae

• Two small sesamoid bones embedded in the heads of the gastrocnemius muscle

Tibia

• Large tibial tuberosity  -  patellar ligament  
• Cochlea = two grooves seperated by a ridge

Fibula

• Does not bear much weight

Tarsals and metatarsals

• Dogs and cats have 7 tarsal bones
• Reduced first MT and digit (dew claw) often absent

Joints of the pelvic limb

Sacro-iliac

Type:

• Synchondrosis ( synovial joint - sacropelvic surface of ilium
• Joint capsule present

ROM:

• Minimal Designed for stability
• Accessory movements =  rot

Supporting structures:

• Dorsal and ventral Sacroiliac ligaments
• Sacrotuberous

Hip

Type:

• Ball and socket
• Femoral head and acetabulum of the ilium, ischium and pubis
• A band of fibrocartilage on the rim of the acetabulum deepens acetabulium

ROM:

• FL & Ext
• Minimal - adduction & abduction

Supporting structures:

• Acetabular lip (fibrocartilage) continues as transverse ligament
• Ligament of the femoral head
• Synovial structures and tendon sheaths:

• Large joint capsule
• Internal obturator

Stifle

Type:

• Hinge joint with  two cartilages/menisci
• Femur & tibia - femorotibial (condylar)
• Femur & patella – femoropatellar (gliding joint)

ROM:

• Flexion and Extension
• At the end of flexion there is int rot
• At the end of extension there is external rotation

Supporting structures:

• Patellar ligament (patella is a sesamoid within the quadriceps  tendon)  
• Medial collateral ligament fused with joint capsule and med meniscus
• Lat collateral ligament: Separated from lat meniscus by popliteus tendon
• Cranial cruciate ligament: Caudolateral femur to cranial tibial. Prevents anterior translation of tibial relative to femur
• Caudal cruciate ligament: Craniomedial femur to caudal tibia. Prevents candal translation of tibial relative to femur
• Lateral meniscus has extra ligament— meniscofemoral lig
  1. Connects caudal lat meniscus to femur
  2. Femoropatellar ligaments – lat and med
  3. Extend from epicondyles to patella

Hock (tarsal)

Type:

• Tarsocrucial joint (TCJ)- greatest movt
• Prox &  distal intertarsal  joint
• Tarsometatarsal joint
• Intertarsal

ROM:

• TCJ - Flexion & Extension and Lateral & rotatory accessory movts
• Others - small amount or translatory and rotatory ROM:

Ligaments of the tarsal joint:

• Medial & lat collateral (both have long and short parts)
• Intertarsal ligaments
• Prox extensor retinaculum
• Transverse ligament on distal tibia
• Holds down tendons of long digital extensor and cranial tibial
• Distal extensor retinaculum
• Hold down tendon of long digital extensor
• Long plantar ligament - connect calcaneus to metatarsus
• Flexor retinaculum - thickening of deep fascia over plantar aspect of tarsus
• Form the tarsal canal  with  the tarsal bones containing:
  • Tendon and sheath of Deep digital flexor
  • Plantar branch of saphenous artery & vein
  • Medial & Lateral plantar nerves

Muscles of the Hind Limb

Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Action	Nerve Supply
Pectineus	Pubis	Femur	Adduct the limb and flexes the hip	Obturator
Iliopsoas Iliacus Psoas	Ventral surface of lumbar vertebrae Ventral surface of the wing of Ilium	Lesser of trochanter of Femur	Flexes Hip and externally rotates the thigh	Ventral branches of Lumbar Spinal Nerves
Gracilis	Pubis Symphysis	Medial Tibia	Adduct limb	Obturator
Adductors	Pubic surface limb symphysis		Adduct limb	Obturator
Internal Obturator	Pelvic floor	Trochanteric fossa of the femur	Lateral rotation of femur	Ischiatic nerve
Gemelli	Ischium	Trochanteric fossa of the femur	Lateral rotation of femur	Ischiatic nerve
External Obturator	Ventral Surface of pubis Ischium	Trochanteric fossa of the femur	Adduct thigh	Ischiatic
Quadratus femoris	Ischium	Caudal surface of femur	Extenf hip and adduct thigh	Obturator
Deep Gluteal	Body of ischium	On or near greater trochanter	Extension Abduction	Gluteal

Muscles of the Hip and Stifle 1

Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Action	Nerve Supply
Superficial gluteal	Dorsal to hip joint	Third trochanter	Abduct hip	Gluteal
Tensore fascia lata	Tuber coxae	Lateral femoral fascia	Hip flexion and stifle extension via tension on the lateral femoral fascia	Gluteal
Biceps femoris	Ischiatic tuberosity	Greater trochanter	Extend and Abduct hip	Gluteal
Semitendinosus	Ischiatic tuberosity	Tibia and calcaneal tub	Extend hip, flex stifle, extend tarsus	Ischiatic
Semimembranosus	Ischiatic tuberosity	Femur and Tibia	Extends hip, Flexes or extends stifle	Ischiatic

Muscles of the Hip and Stifle 2

Muscles	Origin	Insertion	Action	Nerve supply
Middle gluteal	Wing of ilium	Greater trochanter	Extension and abduction	Gluteal
Rectus femoris	Ilium (cranioventral iliac spine)	Patella and patellar tuberosity	Flexes the hip and extends the stifle	Femoral
Vastus lateralis			Extends the stifle	Femoral

Nerves of the Pelvic Limb

Femoral nerve (L4, L5 sometimes L3, L6)

• Musle Innervation - Stifle extensors (quadriceps), llio-psoas.
• Cutaneous Innervation - Medial aspect of limb

Obturator nerve (L5, L6)

• Muscle Innervation - Adductors - obturator, add, gracilis
• Cutaneous Innervation - nil

Gluteal nerve (L6, L7, S1)

•  Muscle Innervation - gluteals, TFL, biceps femoris, semitenndinosus.
• Cutaneous Innervation - nil

Sciatic nerve (L6, L7, S1, S2)

• Muscle InnervationMI - biceps femoris, semitendinosus, semimembranosis
• Cutaneous Innervation - see tibial and fibula branches

Tibial nerve (S1, S2)

• Muscle InnervationMI - extensors of hock, flexors of digits
• Cutaneous Innervation - caudal aspects o1 the limb below stifle

Fibular nerve

• Muscle InnervationMI - flexors of the hock, extensors of the digits    
• Cutaneous Innervation - cranial and lat aspects of limb

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