CHAPTER IV 



ANATOMY, UNSOUNDNESS, AND AGE OF A 

 HORSE 



In order to be a successful judge of horses it is im- 

 portant to be able to recognize the slightest unsoundness, 

 as well as to tell the age of a horse. Since unsoundness 

 often has its origin in the bones, muscles, tendons and 

 ligaments, as well as in the respiratory and digestive sys- 

 tems, we should have a general knowledge of the anatbmy 



'if -\hr. hf>rsc. 



ANATOMY OF A HORSE 



In this brief review of the anatomy we will consider the 

 bones, cartilages, muscles, tendons, ligaments and con- 

 nective tissues as well as the circulatory apparatus, 

 respiratory apparatus, digestive apparatus and nervous 

 system. 



Bones. — The framework of the horse's body consists of 

 the skeleton, which is composed of a large number of con- 

 nected bones moved by muscles. The bones that enter 

 into the formation of the skeleton are of various forms and 

 sizes according to the use for which they are destined. 

 They are divided into three classes : Long, flat and 

 irregular. 



Long bones, which are composed of a hollow shaft and 

 two extremities, are situated in the legs. Flat bones, 

 which are composed of two layers of compact bone with 

 one of cancellated tissue intervening, form cavities; and, 

 irregular bones, which consist chiefly of cancellated tissue 

 covered by a thin, compact layer, enter into formation of 

 joints. Good examples of. long bones are the humerus 

 and radius; of fiat bones are the scapula, ilium and 



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