52 PKINCIPLES OF VETEEINAEY SUBGERT 



SUBCUTANEOUS RUPTURES. 

 Ruptures of Muscles. 



J^ame the causes of muscle rupture. 



Follows violent muscular contractions, or by tlie action 

 from without of blunt agents. Occurs mainly in young, 

 .animals and racehorses. 

 What muscles seem to he predisposed to lacerations ? 



Flexor metatarsi, the straight, oblique and transverse 

 muscles of the abdomen, the crural triceps, gastrocnemius, 

 gluteal muscles, biceps brachii, biceps femoris, triceps ex- 

 tensor, mastoido humeralis, longissimus dorsi, psoas, postea 

 spinatus, etc. 

 What do you understand by spontaneous rupture of a muscle? 



The tearing of muscles which have undergone pathologi- ' • ■ 

 'Cal changes, as in animals exposed to prolonged high fevers. 



Describe the symptoms of muscle ruptu/re. 



The most important one is impaired or lost function, I 

 depending on the fact whether the rent is complete or partial;*;|^ 

 The torn muscle, being no longer antagonized by its 

 antagonist, has full play, followed by symptoms peculiar tor 

 each case. In very recent cases it may be possible to feel the 

 space between the retracted ends, which it must be remem- 

 bered is soon filled by a blood clot and extravasations. 



Mow do muscle lacerations heal 9 



The blood clot is absorbed. The cells from the internal 

 and external perymisium proliferate until the two ends are 

 united by connective tissue. The ultimate damage, as a rule, 

 is never great. 



