Anatomy & Physiology Flashcards

Which anatomical feature of the feline thoracic limb allows cats to supinate their forepaws more effectively than dogs?

Answer: Separate radius and ulna with greater rotational mobility

Cats have a separate radius and ulna that rotate more freely relative to each other, enabling the supination needed for grasping prey.

The 'stay apparatus' in the horse has a feline equivalent concept — in dogs, which passive mechanism assists in maintaining the extended elbow during weight bearing?

Answer: Locking of the olecranon in the trochlear notch

The olecranon process locking into the humeral trochlear notch provides passive bony stability of the extended elbow during stance in dogs.

In rehabilitation of companion animals, understanding that the gastrocnemius muscle crosses which two joints is critical for treatment planning?

Answer: Stifle and hock (tarsocrural)

The gastrocnemius is a biarticular muscle crossing both the stifle (origin on femoral condyles) and the hock (insertion on calcaneus), so tightness affects both joints.

Which lymph nodes are most clinically relevant when assessing lymphatic drainage from the canine pelvic limb during a physical examination?

Answer: Popliteal and inguinal nodes

The popliteal node (caudal to the stifle) and inguinal nodes drain the hindlimb and are routinely palpated in hindlimb assessment.

In canine anatomy, the 'common calcanean tendon' (Achilles tendon equivalent) is formed by contributions from which muscles?

Answer: Gastrocnemius, superficial digital flexor, biceps femoris, gracilis, and semitendinosus

The canine common calcanean tendon receives contributions from the gastrocnemius, superficial digital flexor, biceps femoris, gracilis, and semitendinosus muscles.

What is the significance of the 'critical closing pressure' concept in capillary physiology as it relates to tissue healing in rehabilitation patients?

Answer: It is the minimum intravascular pressure required to keep capillaries open against external tissue pressure

Critical closing pressure is the minimum intravascular pressure needed to maintain capillary patency; when external tissue pressure exceeds it (e.g., edema, compression), local ischemia occurs.

In companion animal neuroanatomy, the term 'upper motor neuron (UMN) signs' in the hindlimbs indicates a lesion located where in the nervous system?

Answer: Spinal cord cranial to L4 or brain

UMN signs (increased reflexes, spasticity, intact muscle mass) indicate a lesion in the spinal cord cranial to L4 or in the brain, above the lower motor neuron cell bodies.