Osteology

It is the division of systemic anatomy which deals with the description of the skeleton i.e., bones
and cartilages.
Skeleton: The term skeleton is applied to the frame work of hard structures which supports and
protects the soft tissues of animals.
Classification
The skeleton is classified into axial and appendicular skeleton.

Axial skeleton: It includes the bones of head, vertebral column, ribs and sternum.
Appendicular skeleton: It includes the bones of limbs (forelimbs and hindlimbs).

Region Cattle Horse Dog Pig Rabbit Fowl

Vertebral 51 51 51 52 46 41
column
Ribs and 27 37 29 28 to 31 24 to 29 18
sternum
Forelimb 48 40 88 80 62 26
Hindlimb 48 40 90 80 58 42
Skull 32 32 32 30 34 40
Visceral 2 - 1 1 - 2
bones
Total 208 200 291 274 229 169
Appendicular skeleton

Bones of the thoracic limbs

The bones of the thoracic limbs are composed of four chief segments:

1. Thoracic girdle
2. Arm (humerus)
3. Forearm (radius and ulna)
4. Manus (carpus, meta-carpus and digits)

Thoracic (shoulder) girdle: The shoulder girdle, when fully developed, consists of three bones.
i) Scapula (or shoulder blade)
ii) Coracoid
iii) Clavicle.
In the domesticated mammals only, the scapula is well developed, and the small coracoid bone is
fused with it, while the clavicle is either absent or is a small rudiment embedded in the
brachiocephalic muscle. Therefore, there is no articulation of the shoulder with the axial skeleton.
Scapula
Shape: flat triangular bone
Location: it is located on cranial part against the lateral wall of thorax. Its long axis extends
obliquely from 4th thoracic spine to ventral end of first rib.
Direction: It is directed downward and forward.
Articulation: It articulates with the humerus below forming shoulder joint and medially attached
with the thorax by means of muscles.
Scapula possesses 2 surfaces, 3 borders and 3 angles.
Surfaces (lateral and medial)
1. Lateral surface: It is divided into two unequal halves (1:3) by the spine of the scapula. The
area in front of the spine is smaller and termed as supraspinatus fossa. The area behind the
spine is larger and termed as infraspinatus fossa. The supraspinatus fossa lodges the
supraspinatus muscles whereas infraspinatus fossa lodges the infraspinatus muscles. The
spine is broad and bend backward at the middle to which trapezius muscle is attached. The
spine ends below into a pointed projection known as acromion process.
2. Medial / costal surface: It consists of a shallow subscapular fossa in the middle, which
lodges subscapularis muscle. At the upper part of this surface, cranially and caudally there
are two rough triangular areas for the attachment of serratus cervicis and serratus thoracis
muscles respectively.
Borders (anterior, posterior & dorsal)
1. Anterior border: It is thin sharp and convex in dorsal two third and thick, rounded and
concave for remaining part.
2. Posterior border: It is thick and slightly concavo-convex. Nutrient foramen is on lower 3rd
of this border.
3. Dorsal border: It is thick and rough for the attachment of scapular cartilage.
Angles (anterior, posterior & distal)
1. Anterior angle: It is thin and formed by anterior and dorsal border.
2. Posterior angle: It is thick and formed by posterior and dorsal border.
3. Distal angle: It consists of glenoid cavity and supraglenoid tubercle (tuber scapula). The
glenoid cavity is shallow circular articular surface for articulation with the head of
humerus. The rim of the cavity presents undeveloped glenoid notch on its lateral aspect.
The supraglenoid tubercle is small and is situated in front of the glenoid cavity and gives
origin to biceps brachii muscle. A short, rounded coracoid process projects from the medial
side of the supraglenoid tubercle and gives origin to the coraco-brachialis muscle.
Species difference of scapula
1. Scapula of sheep/goat
• Relatively smaller but more triangular and angular than ox.
• Subscapular fossa is more extensive, i.e., triangular in shape.

2. Scapula of horse
• Spine is placed a little further backwards from the anterior border.
• Acromion process is absent.
• Supraglenoid tubercle is large and placed further apart from glenoid cavity.
• Subscapular fossa is deeper.
• Glenoid notch is deep and distinct.

3. Scapula of dog
• Spine is placed at the middle and divides the lateral surface into two equal halves.
• Acromion process is short, blunt and overhangs the glenoid cavity.
• Subscapular fossa is very shallow and present few rough lines.
• Anterior and dorsal borders are convex and anterior angle is practically absent.
 • Posterior border is thick and nearly straight.
• Tuber scapulae is blunt.
• Small coracoid process is present.

4. Scapula of pig
• Ratio between supraspinatus and infraspinatus fossa is 1:0.8
• Spine is wide and further directed backward.
• Acromion process is rudimentary.
• Glenoid notch is absent.
• Cranial border: strongly convex
• Caudal border: wide, slightly concave.
• Dorsal border: convex, cartilage less extensive than ox & horse
• Neck is well developed.
5. Scapula of rabbit
• Spine is situated more cranially.
• Anterior angle is blunt.
• Coracoid process is developed.
• Acromion process is broad and continued backward in the form of projection,
known as metacromion process.
6. Scapula of fowl
• It is elongated, narrow, thin slightly curved bone and situated parallel to vertebral
column.
• It articulates anteriorly with coracoid and humerus while posterior end is free and
non-articular.