470 NAMES OF EXTERNAL PARTS. 



covered by the saddle. Strictly speaking, it is that 

 portion of the spine which is possessed of ribs. In 

 common parlance, the term '"back" is often applied 

 to the upper part of the horse, from the withers 

 to the highest point of the croup (Fig. 148, H\ 

 This measurement includes the loins (12) as well 

 as the back. The bones (six vertebrae) of the loins 

 have no ribs, and, consequently, the flanks on each 

 side are soft to the touch, and have a tendency 

 to " fall in" (become depressed), especially if the 

 abdomen, which is underneath them, be insufficiently 

 filled with food. The croup (17) is that part of the 

 spine which is between the loins and tail. The hind 

 legs are connected to the croup by means of the 

 pelvis, which is firmly united to the croup by strong 

 ligaments. The pelvis stands in the same relation to 

 the hind legs as the shoulder blades do to the fore 

 limbs, the chief difference between them being that 

 the pelvis is a single bony structure composed of 

 several bones, and the shoulder blades are separate 

 bones. The front part of the pelvis is called the 

 point of the hip (S). 



The stifle (A^) is the joint of the hind leg which 

 is at the lower part of the flank. The thigh extends 

 from the stifle to the hip joint. 



The hock (20) is the large and freely movable 

 joint which is immediately above the hind cannon- 

 bone. The point of the hock (Q) is the bony pro- 

 jection at the back and top of the hock. The ham- 

 string, or tendo Achillis (P), is the tendinous cord 



