The artistic anatomy of the horse / by B. Waterhouse Hawkins, with twenty-four illustrations drawn on wood by the author.

  • Hawkins, B. Waterhouse (Benjamin Waterhouse), 1807-1894.
Date:
1865
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The artistic anatomy of the horse / by B. Waterhouse Hawkins, with twenty-four illustrations drawn on wood by the author. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    7 5 l and have a common action, it will be convenient to speak of them as one. It takes its origin from several of the bones of the spine, including some at the root of the tail, and from various parts of the haunch bones ; it then curves downwards and forwards, dividing into three heads which are inserted broadly into the upper part of the lower bone of the thigh, behind the “ stifle joint,” or tx-ue knee. Its action is evidently to draw back the stifle joint, in other words, to straighten the leg. It has therefore enormous power in impelling the animal forward. The glutcei muscles bend the leg preparatory to taking the spring, and the triceps acts in opposition, forcing the leg straight, and consequently lifting the body forwards. The posterior margin of this muscle may be more or less distinctly observed, parallel to the outline of the bullock, in all kinds of horses, but is particularly evident in hunters and racers, where high condition has resulted from the proper exercise of these powerful springs of motion. Parallel with, and immediately behind the triceps is the biceps (Pis. I, XIII, XIY, o). It springs from the sacrum and the first bones of the tail, and descending to the inner side of the lower bone of the thigh (tibia) forms the outer posterior border of the haunch, and assists in straightening the leg. The semi-membranosus (Pis. I, XIY, p), is also one of the flexors of the leg; it forms the inner posterior border of the haunch, and unites on the mesial line, under the tail, with its fellow muscle of the other quarter. On the outer front part of the haunch is the musculus