34 THE VETERINARY SCIENCE 



another set of muscles, sometimes called the muscles of the 

 gullet, or pharynx, which assist in swallowing. The neck 

 muscles are divided into two groups, one on each side. The 

 action of these are to raise and lower the head, also to turn 

 the neck and head from side to side. The muscles of the 

 back are generally divided into two groups, one above the 

 spinal column and the other below. The muscles above the 

 spine assist the animal in running, jumping and rearing. The 

 muscles below the spine are sometimes called the lumbar, or 

 psoae, situated below the lumbar bones, or the bones of the 

 small of the back. The action of these muscles is to assist 

 the animal in getting up. These muscles are important, for 

 when paralyzed the horse cannot use his hindquarters. Below 

 these muscles are the kidneys. 



2. The Gluteal Muscles, or the muscles of the hip, are 

 very large, filling in around the hip bones. The action of 

 these is much the same as those of the back, as they assist 

 in jumping, running, rearing, and in raising the hind leg. 



3. The Abdominal Muscles, or belly muscles, are four 

 large, flat muscles on each side of the abdomen, or belly. The 

 outer edge of these muscles is attached to the outer ends of 

 the false ribs, also to the processes of the lumbar bones and 

 the outer angles of the hip bones. They unite below to what 

 is called the linea alba, a hard, white fibrous cord, and are 

 attached in front to the back part of the breast bone. They 

 pass back in the center of the belly and are attached to 

 the front of the pubic bones, called the lower bones 

 of the hip cavity. About ten inches from 

 where it is attached here, passing forward, is a small slit, or 

 hole, which is called the navel, or umbilical opening. Here 

 the navel vessels pass in and out during the foetus life, or 

 before the colt is foaled. This is a point of importance to 

 note, for sometimes at the time of birth this opening does 

 not close and allows the bowels to come down and form 

 what is known as navel, or umbilical rupture. 



Before finishing the description of this group of muscles 

 a very large, important ligament should be noted, which is 

 found spread all over the abdomen, or belly, of the horse. It 

 is of a yellowish,color and about one-eighth of an inch thick, 

 attached in front to the back of the breast bone and to the 

 hip bones behind. This is the first structure seen after re- 

 moving the skin from the belly. This ligament gives great 



