Horse foot - deep palmar dissection

This specimen preserves a superficial dissection of the lower limb musculature from the midthigh to the hoof. The capsule of the stifle and tarsus joints has been opened to demonstrate the menisci, the main ligaments and the topography of the tendons. Muscles extensor and flexor of these joints as well as the foot joints have been dissected from the origin in the femur and tibia bones, to the insertions tendons in the tarsus, metatarsus and phalanges bones. Nerves and vessels have been dissected in the popliteal fossa, tarsus and digit regions. Detailed anatomical description on request.

This dissected right-foot specimen displays a mixture of the vascular, nervous, ligaments and tendons. The plantar digital neurovascular bundles both sides of the flexor tendons. The two digital extensor tendons are identified in the proximal dorsal aspect of the specimen. Metatarsophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints show all ligaments. Between the plantar aspect of the metatarsal bones and the digital tendon flexors is the interosseus ligament with its sesamoid and extensor branches.

This horse half-head shows a superficial dissection on the right lateral aspect and a middle sagittal section on the medial aspect.On the lateral side the skin has been removed, except on the nostrils, lips and external ear. In the rostral part of the dissection are the muscles of facial mimicry, the levator nasolabialis, canine, levator labii superioris, zygomaticus, buccinator (buccal portion) and depressor labii inferioris muscles. The caudal part of the dissection is occupied by the masseteric muscle covered by the masseteric fascia from the facial crest of the maxillary bone. This muscle presents on the surface the course of the dorsal and ventral buccal branches of the facial nerve, which end rostrally as buccolabial branches. In the notch of the facial vessels, the facial artery and vein are located together with the parotid duct. In the dorsal and caudal part of the masseter muscle, the transverse facial artery and vein are located together with the auriculotemporal nerve. The parotid-auricular muscle, the parotid gland, and the maxillary and linguofacial veins are located in the cervicofacial transit.In the middle sagittal section, the nasal cavity is occupied by the ventral nasal concha, dorsal nasal concha, and middle nasal concha, separated by the dorsal, middle, and ventral nasal meatuses. The perpendicular lamina of the ethmoid bone is located in the caudal area of the nasal cavity. This bone is the rostral limit of the cerebral fossa. The cerebellar fossa is caudal to the anterior one. The vomer bone establishes the choanae as transit to the nasopharynx where the pharyngeal opening of the auditory tube is located. The oral cavity is limited dorsally by the hard palate, which continues caudally as the soft palate. The sagittal section of the tongue shows the proper lingual muscle as well as the genioglossus and genihyoid muscles. The oropharynx is occupied by the root of the tongue and the soft palate. The epiglottis, arytenoid cartilage, and cricoid cartilage limit the laryngeal cavity with the lateral ventricle, vocal fold, and infraglottic cavity. The laryngopharynx is occupied by the esophageal vestibule. The esophagus is located dorsal to the trachea and ventral to the long cervical and long capitis muscles. The mandibular lymph nodes are in the intermandibular space.

This specimen is focused on the sacroiliac joint, the two coxal bones (os coxae) are exposed in the dissection: Ilium, pubis and ischium, together with lumbar vertebrae and sacrum. At the sacroiliac joint, the dorsal sacroiliac ligament can be identified. The broad sacrotuberous ligament of the pelvis extends from the lateral sacral crest to the sciaticspine and ischial tuberosity. The greater sciatic foramen occupied by the lumbosacral trunk. From the vertebral bodies and part of the transverse processes of the lumbarvertebrae, the tendons of insertion of the psoas minor muscles are identified. The ventral longitudinal ligament connects the ventral aspect of most cranial lumbar vertebral bodies.

This specimen demonstrates the ligaments of the stifle joint with the leg in extension. In the anterior view, with the patella and the three patellar ligaments.The medial and lateral menisci, the caudal cruciate, the femoropatellar and the collateral ligaments are visible.

This specimen demonstrates the superficial anatomy of a right forelimb from the elbow joint to the hoof. The carpus and digital extensor and flexor muscles are located in the forearm related to the pathway of the median and cubital nerves. The main branches of the median artery as well as the median and cephalic veins have been maintained. Distal to the carpus the specimen shows the topographic relation of the palmar nerves with the digital tendon flexors. Distal to the metacarpophalangeal joint it is possible to see at both sides the palmar digital neurovascular bundle.