Horse Anatomy

Frog
One of the most important, but often neglected
structures of the horses hoof. It should be wide
and substantial and made up of thick, leathery
material. An unhealthy frog is vulnerable to
infection which, if left untreated, can lead to
significant loss of structure in the back of the
hoof causing severe lameness.
The frog works in concert with the coronary
band, the bars and the sole to provide resistance
to distortion of the hoof capsule during the stride.
Pressure placed upon the frog directly influences
the health of the digital cushion above it.
The frog stay (triangular piece cut out of the sole
that the frog sits in) allows independent
movement at the heels as the horse lands on
uneven ground. The frog also plays a part in
protecting the sensitive structures beneath,
providing traction, assisting circulation and
absorbing shock.
 Sole

The sole is the area

inside the white line, but
not including the bars and
frog. Its primary function
is to protect the sensitive
structures beneath the
sole.
However, the outer
perimeter of sole also
provides support, sharing
some of the weight of the
horse with the hoof wall.
 White line
The purpose of the
Golden Line is to join the
sole to the inner wall of
the hoof and to seal off
the border of the pedal
bone to protect it from
bacterial infiltration.
It creates a shallow
crease at the bottom of
the hoof which fills with
dirt, aiding with traction.
Should not be penetrated
by a nail during shoeing.
 Inner Wall

The inner hoof wall is

usually white (unlike
the outer wall, it does
not contain pigment).
It is more pliable than
the outer wall due to
the higher ratio of
intertubular horn
which bind the
tubules together.
 Outer Wall

The outer hoof wall is

pigmented and contains a
higher ratio of tubules.
These tube-like structures
grow down from the
coronary band in a spiral
configuration. It has been
suggested that this
makes them act like tiny
springs, but this cannot
happen as there is no
space between the coils.
bone growth in the
pastern or coffin
joint
 video
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7742883613355143098

http://www.4act.com/training/play.aspx?cID=143&vID=1944
Digestive System

1. Mouth
2. Pharynx
3. Esophagus
4. Diaphragm
5. Spleen
6. Stomach
7. Duodenum
8. Liver, upper
extremity
9. Large colon
10. Coecum
11. Small intestine
12. Floating colon
13. Rectum
14. Anus
15. Left kidney and
its ureter
16. Bladder
17. Urethra
Equine gastrointestinal anatomy
Gallbladder?
Fermentation occurs on the
Cecum and colon.
 Rectal Palpation
L side: spleen, pelvic flexure, R side: Aorta, cecum
mesenteric root, L kidney

SI strangulation Cecal tympany

Large colon impaction
Umbilicus, horse
 Thoracic limb
support the weight of the front
end of its body while using a
minimal amount of muscular
activity
helps prevent fatigue of the limb
muscles
transfers weight from the
thoracic limb muscles to
connective tissue structures that
do not tire, namely tendons,
ligaments or bone
Pelvic Limb
supports the weight of the
caudal end of its body allows the
other pelvic limb to be placed in
a "resting" position: tip toe
reduces the amount of energy
(the amount of muscular effort is
not reduced)
Pelvic limb: stifle locked,
reciprocal mechanism: stifle and
hock move in unison;
ligament/tendon in distal limb
Lameness Exam - FL
 Diagnostic Anesthesia
ASEPSIS IS CRITICAL
Scrub area with surgical scrub (chlorhexidine gluconate or povidone iodine) for a full 5
minutes
Spray area with alcohol (do not allow alcohol to drip from dirty to clean area)
Ensure adequate restraint (keep in mind that the veterinarian is responsible for the
safety of everyone involved). Use of a twitch, lip chain or nose chain is indicated.
Chemical restraint may be desirable when injecting into a joint to ensure no movement
of the horse
Use sterile gloves and an unopened bottle of anesthetic agent
Determine landmarks for injection
Insert need with quick, determined thrust
Obtain joint fluid (if possible)
Attach syringe and inject anesthetic agent - fluid should inject freely, without
resistance. If resistance is met, it is advisable to reposition needle, it is probably not
intra- articular.
Wait recommended amount of time and re evaluate lameness
 Palmar/Plantar Digital Nerve
Block
Structures Anesthetized Dx: Navicular Syndrome, Heel
Navicular bone Pain Syndrome, Wing Fractures
Navicular bursa of P3, Subsolar abscess. +/-
Distal sesamoidean ligaments Pedal osteitis
Deep Digital Flexor tendon and
sheath
Digital cushion
Corium of frog
Palmar 1/3-2/3 of sole
Palmar pastern and coffin joints
Palmar distal phalanx / wings of
coffin bone
Palmar Skin
 Diagnostic Anesthesia

Fetlock Pastern
Carpus
 References
http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/projects/grossanat
/index.htm
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/oed/horsedisse
ction/Search.asp?Fun=SBM#