CCAT Anatomy & Physiology 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which anatomical feature of the feline thoracic limb allows cats to supinate their forepaws more effectively than dogs?
- Fused radius and ulna
- Separate radius and ulna with greater rotational mobility (Correct answer)
- Wider humeral trochlea
- Larger bicipital groove
Correct 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.
Question 2: 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?
- Active contraction of the triceps brachii
- Passive tension in the lacertus fibrosus and radial carpal extensor
- Locking of the olecranon in the trochlear notch (Correct answer)
- Contraction of the supinator muscle
Correct 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.
Question 3: In rehabilitation of companion animals, understanding that the gastrocnemius muscle crosses which two joints is critical for treatment planning?
- Hip and stifle
- Stifle and hock (tarsocrural) (Correct answer)
- Hock and digits
- Hip and hock
Correct 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.
Question 4: Which lymph nodes are most clinically relevant when assessing lymphatic drainage from the canine pelvic limb during a physical examination?
- Prescapular and axillary nodes
- Popliteal and inguinal nodes (Correct answer)
- Mandibular and retropharyngeal nodes
- Mesenteric and sublumbar nodes
Correct 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.
Question 5: In canine anatomy, the 'common calcanean tendon' (Achilles tendon equivalent) is formed by contributions from which muscles?
- Biceps femoris, gracilis, and sartorius
- Gastrocnemius, superficial digital flexor, biceps femoris, gracilis, and semitendinosus (Correct answer)
- Gastrocnemius and deep digital flexor only
- Quadriceps femoris and tensor fasciae latae
Correct 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.
Question 6: What is the significance of the 'critical closing pressure' concept in capillary physiology as it relates to tissue healing in rehabilitation patients?
- It is the blood pressure needed to perfuse the brain
- It is the minimum intravascular pressure required to keep capillaries open against external tissue pressure (Correct answer)
- It describes the pressure at which arterial valves close
- It refers to the pressure in lymphatic vessels during edema
Correct 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.
Question 7: In companion animal neuroanatomy, the term 'upper motor neuron (UMN) signs' in the hindlimbs indicates a lesion located where in the nervous system?
- Peripheral nerve distal to the spinal cord
- Spinal cord segments caudal to L4 or nerve roots
- Spinal cord cranial to L4 or brain (Correct answer)
- Neuromuscular junction
Correct 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.
CCAT Anatomy & Physiology 5
Which anatomical feature of the feline thoracic limb allows cats to supinate their forepaws more effectively than dogs?