48 OSTEOLOGY OF THE HORSE. 



Sliming the figure of a misplaced > , the angle of which is turned 

 backwards. 



The mouth is formed — superiorly, by the palatine and supe- 

 rior and anterior maxillary bones ; inferiorly, by the inferior max- 

 illa; laterally, by the molar teeth; anteriorly, by the incisive 

 teeth. Behind, through the posterior opening of the nose, it com- 

 municates with the nasal fossae. 



OF THE EXTREMITIES. 



In number, four. — Disposed in pairs. — Divided into fore and 

 hind extremities. 



I.— THE FORE EXTREMITIES. 



Situation. — Antero-lateral parts of the trunk, from which they 

 proceed downward. 



Division. — Into shoulder, arm, knee, leg, pastern, coronet, and 

 foot. 



OF THE SHOULDER. 



Constituted of the scapula, superiorly ; and of the humerus, 

 inferiorly. 



BLADE BONE. (SCAPULA.) 



Situation. — Antero-lateral part of the thorax. Its position is 

 oblique, the antero-superior angle being directed forwards and 

 upwards ; the postero-superior, downwards and backwards. The 

 former rises above the transverse process of the fourth dorsal ver- 

 tebra ; the latter is opposed to the angle of the seventh rib. The 

 coracoid process comes opposite to the sternal extremity of the 

 first rib. 



Form. — ^Triangular: inferior angle irregular and detruncated. 

 Broad and thin, superiorly ; narrowing, but growing thicker and 

 more substantial, inferiorly. 



Division. — Into two surfaces, three borders or sides, and three 

 angles. 



Surfaces. — External and Internal. The external, some- 

 times called the dorsum scapulae, is divided unequally into two 

 superficial concavities, named the fossae an tea et postea spinatte, 

 by the spine, a longitudinal eminence arising gradually from the 

 superior border, and terminating imperceptibly in the neck, the 

 smooth contracted part above the lower extremity of the bone : 

 the posterior is thrice as large as the anterior fossa ; the one giv- 

 ing attachment to the antea spinatus, the other to the postea 

 spinatus muscle ; and the spine to the trapezius. In the poste- 

 rior fossa, near where it joins the cervix scapulae, is the medullary 

 foramen, directed downward. — T/ie iutertmt surface, also called 



