Canine Anatomy and Biomechanics Flashcards
7 cards from real CCAT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Canine Anatomy and Biomechanics flashcards as text
The thoracolumbar fascia in dogs functions primarily to:
Answer: Transfer forces between the epaxial muscles and the hindlimbs
The thoracolumbar fascia acts as a passive tensile structure that transfers loads and forces between the epaxial muscles, hindlimbs, and spine during locomotion.
Which nerve is responsible for innervating the flexors of the canine elbow (biceps brachii and brachialis)?
Answer: Musculocutaneous nerve
The musculocutaneous nerve innervates the biceps brachii and brachialis muscles, which are the primary flexors of the elbow joint.
In canine biomechanics, the term 'ground reaction force' refers to:
Answer: The equal and opposite force the ground exerts on the dog's paw
Ground reaction force (GRF) is Newton's third law response — the equal and opposite force the ground exerts upward on the dog's foot in response to the dog's foot pushing down.
The fibula in dogs is best described as:
Answer: A slender non-weight-bearing bone fused to the tibia distally
The canine fibula is a slender bone that bears minimal weight; it articulates with and is often fused to the tibia distally and helps form the ankle mortise.
Which muscle group constitutes the 'hamstrings' in dogs and contributes to hip extension and stifle flexion?
Answer: Biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus
The canine hamstrings consist of the biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus, which extend the hip and flex the stifle as biarticular muscles.
The atlantoaxial joint allows which primary movement in dogs?
Answer: Axial rotation (nodding 'no')
The atlantoaxial joint (C1-C2) is specialized for axial rotation, allowing the atlas (and attached skull) to rotate around the dens of the axis, producing the 'no' head-shaking motion.
When assessing a dog's gait on a force plate, peak vertical force (PVF) is most commonly normalized to:
Answer: Body weight
Peak vertical force is normalized to body weight (%BW) to allow comparison between dogs of different sizes and to track changes over time within the same patient.