Elementary Anatomy of a Hound 29 



The Thorax 

 The dog has thirteen pairs of ribs, eight of these 

 being spoken of as true ribs, and five false. The 

 sternum forms the floor of the chest and consists of 

 eight pieces or sternebrae. 



The Fore Limb 



Sometimes a very small bone is embedded in the 

 flesh on the front part of the shoulder; if so, this re- 

 presents the clavicle or collar-hone present in man. 



As the bones of the fore limbs in hounds are 

 very often injured the reader should make himself 

 thoroughly acquainted with the bones entering into 

 their formation. 



First of all there is the scapula or shoulder-blade, 

 which has inner and outer surfaces. The outer sur- 

 face is divided by a bony spine, running lengthwise of 

 the bone, and ending below in a small bony process. 

 In most other animals the top border of the shoulder- 

 blade has its area prolonged upwards by cartilage or 

 gristle, but this is absent in the dog. The inner sur- 

 face is roughened and depressed so as to accommo- 

 date muscle. This is called the subscapular fossa. 

 The lower end of the shoulder-blade articulates with 

 the upper end of the bone below it, viz., the humerus 

 or arniy and in all the tall hounds this bone is long, 

 but it occupies a somewhat sheltered position, pass- 

 ing obliquely downwards and backwards from the 



