1 66 



Anatomy of the Rabbit. 



tremity — is divisible into proximal, middle and distal segments. 

 The proximal segment contains a single element, the femur; the 

 middle segment two elements, the tibia and fibula, which, how- 

 ever, are extensively coalesced; 

 and the distal segment twenty- 

 three elements, of which six 

 form the tarsus, five the meta- 

 tarsus, and twelve the pha- 

 langes. 



THE COXAL BONE. 



The coxal bone (os coxae) 

 (Fig. 69) is a somewhat trira- 

 diate structure, the posterior 

 limbs of which are united, so 

 that they enclose a large aper- 

 ture, the obturator foramen 

 (foramen obturatum). It is 

 firmly articulated with the 

 sacrum, and is united with its 

 fellow of the opposite side by a 

 thin strip of cartilage containing 

 a small amount of fibrous 

 material. The latter connec- 

 tion is the pubic symphysis 

 (symphysis pubis), better term- 

 ed in the rabbit the pelvic 

 symphysis, since it is some- 

 what more extensive than the 

 corresponding articulation of 

 the human pelvis. 



In the young animal each 

 half of the pelvis consists of 

 three elements, namely, the 

 ilium, ischium, and pubis. 

 They form the three rays of the 

 one another in the region of the 



Fig. 69. Lateral surface of the left 

 coxal bone: IL, ilium; IS, ischium; P, 

 pubis; a., acetabulum; a.l.> iliac wing; 

 c.i., body of iliumj c.is,, body 6t ischium; 

 c.p., body of pubis; cr., iliac crest; e.i., 

 iliopectineal eminence; f.a., acetabular' 

 fossa; f.o., obturator foramen; i.a., 

 acetabular notch; i.mi., lesser sciatic 

 notch; i.mj., greater sciatic notch; l.i., 

 iliopectineal line; p.l., lateral process of 

 ischial tuberosity; r.i.i., inferior ramus of 

 ischium; r.i.p., inferior ramus of pubis; 

 r.s.i., superior ramus of ischium; r.s.p., 

 superior ramus of pubis; s.a.i., inferior 

 anterior spine of the ilium ; s.a.s., superior 

 anterior spine; s,i., ischial spine; s.p., 

 symphysis pubis; s.p.i., inferior posterior 

 spine; t.i., ischial tuberosity; t.p., pubic 

 tubercle. 



coxal bone, and are united with 



