Equine Anatomy and Physiology: Practical Lower Limb dissection

Practical: Lower limb dissection 

• Class: MAMMALIA

• Order: Perissodactyla

• Family: EQUIDAE

Background:

• The lower leg is one of the main adaptations of family EQUIDAE

• Walking on a single toe (unguligrade) requires specialized anatomy

• A disadvantage of unguligrade = any damage to any structure of lower limb will result in lameness

• Some of the primary structures prone to injury & pathology:

•  Digital flexor tendons

• Lamellae

• Distal sesamoid bone (navicular)

Instruments:

• Scissors

• Scalpel

• Probe

• forceps/tweezers

1. Removal of skin

• Note protective nature of thickness of the skin

• Using a scalpel, make incisions along the median line of the palmer/planter side of the limb.

• Make a circular incision…