Artistic Anatomy of Animals Part 16

In the horse we can partly see it in the superficial muscular layer, but in the region of the neck only, at the superior border of the shoulder.

Indeed, as we have already pointed out, the trapezius does not reach the occipital protuberance; for this reason a part of the anterior portion of the rhomboid may be seen--that is, the portion which corresponds to the superior part of the human muscle.

But whether it be covered by the trapezius, or, as we find in the cat and dog, by the _mastoido-humeral muscle_ (see p. 150), which is very broad in this region, we do not the less recognise its presence; and in the horse and ox, in particular, it forms an elongated prominence beginning at the level of the scapula, and tapering as it ascends, towards the posterior part of the head.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 70.--MYOLOGY OF THE HORSE: SUPERFICIAL LAYER OF MUSCLES.

1, Trapezius, cervical portion; 2, trapezius, dorsal portion; 3, superior outline of the scapula; 4, spine of the scapula; 5, latissimus dorsi muscle; 6, small posterior serratus; 7, spinal muscles, or common muscular ma.s.s; 8, ribs; 9, serratus magnus; 10, external oblique; 11, pectoralis major (sterno-humeral); 12, pectoralis minor (sterno-trochinian); 13, atlas; 14, parotid gland; 15, mastoido-humeralis; 16, point of the arm; 17, sterno-mastoid, or sterno-maxillary; 18, jugular groove; 19, infrahyoid muscles; 20, omo-trachelian muscle; 21, rhomboid; 22, splenius; 23, levator anguli scapulae; 24, deltoid; 25, supraspinatus; 26, terminal part of the sterno-prescapular, a portion of the small pectoral muscle; 27, brachialis anticus; 28, triceps cubiti, middle or long head; 29, triceps cubiti, external head; 30, olecranon; 31, radial extensor (anterior extensor of the metacarpus); 32, anterior iliac spine; 33, anterior portion of the gluteus maximus--the aponeurosis of the muscle has been divided in order to expose the gluteus medius; 34, posterior portion of the gluteus maximus; 35, gluteus medius; 36, biceps cruris; 37, semitendinosus; 38, point of the b.u.t.tock; 39, gastrocnemius; 40, tensor of the fascia lata; 41, triceps cruris; 42, ischio-coccygeal muscle; 43, superior sacro-coccygeal; 44, lateral sacro-coccygeal; 45, inferior sacro-coccygeal.]

Its origins are similar to those which we have already described in the human rhomboid. It arises from the cervical ligament and the spinous processes of the foremost dorsal vertebrae; its fibres converge and pa.s.s to the scapula, to be inserted into its superior or spinal border, or into the internal surface of the cartilage of prolongation.

It a.s.sists in keeping the scapula applied to the thoracic cage, and when it contracts, draws the scapula upwards and forwards.

Taking its fixed point at the scapula, it acts on the neck by its anterior fibres, and extends it.

We shall soon have occasion to mention this muscle again, in connection with the study of the muscles of the neck.

=The Cutaneous Muscle of the Trunk= (Fig. 71).--Immediately beneath the skin which covers the neck, shoulders, and trunk is found a vast cutaneous muscle, a.n.a.logous to that which, in the human species, exists only in the cervical region.

This thin muscle, whose function is to move the skin which strongly adheres to it, and in this way to remove from it material causes of irritation (insects, for example), is of considerable thickness in the region of the trunk; where it const.i.tutes what certain authors have designated by the name of _panniculus carnosus_. In this region it extends from the posterior border of the shoulder to the thigh, and, in the vertical direction, from the apices of the spinous process of the dorso-lumbar vertebrae to the median line of the abdomen.

Arising above from the supraspinous ligament of the dorso-lumbar and sacral regions (except in the carnivora; see below) by an aponeurosis which, posteriorly, covers the muscles of the hind-limbs, its fibres are directed to the elbow, on which they are arranged in two layers: a superficial, which becomes continuous with the panniculus muscle of the shoulder; and a deep, which pa.s.ses on the inner side of the shoulder to be inserted into the internal surface of the humerus; this latter exists only in the dog and cat.

The most inferior fibres, behind, at the level of the knee-cap form a triangular process which in the horse receives the name of the _stifle fold_, from the name veterinarians give to the region of the articulation of the knee. This fold of skin, which commences on the antero-internal surface of this region, is directed upwards, and then forwards, to end by gradually disappearing over the corresponding part of the abdomen.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 71.--MYOLOGY OF THE HORSE: PANNICULUS MUSCLE OF THE TRUNK.]

In the same animal the muscular fibres of the panniculus of the trunk arise along a line which connects the stifle-joint to the withers, a line which is, consequently, oblique upwards and forwards. Now, as the fleshy layer is thicker than the aponeurosis, the result is that the mode of const.i.tution of this muscle can be recognised under the skin.

Indeed, we can see in some animals, occasionally very distinctly, a slight elevation starting from the region of the abdomen in the neighbourhood of the knee, and thence directed obliquely upwards and forwards. This elevation is produced by the fleshy portion of the panniculus.

In the carnivora, the panniculus of the trunk is not attached to the supraspinous ligament; it is blended with the same muscle of the opposite side, pa.s.sing over the spinous region of the vertebral column.

From this arrangement results a great mobility of the skin which covers the back. Further, it explains why it is possible to lift up this skin along with the panniculus which it covers, and to which it adheres, throughout the whole extent of the dorso-lumbar column. As we pointed out above, there is also a panniculus muscle of the shoulder and one of the neck. We will deal with them when treating of the regions to which those muscles belong.

The Coccygeal Region

As a sequel to the study of the muscles of the region of the trunk very naturally comes the description of those which, belonging to the region of the coccyx, are destined for the movements of the caudal appendix, of which this latter const.i.tutes the skeleton. The muscles may not seem to be of much importance with regard to external form, but, as they form part of the superficial muscular layer, and as the ma.s.s of each is seen in the form of the tail in some animals (the lion, for example), they merit our attention for a moment. A few lines will suffice to give an idea of them. They are: the _ischio-coccygeal_, _superior sacro-coccygeal_, _lateral sacro-coccygeal_, and _inferior sacro-coccygeal_.

=The Ischio-coccygeal= (Fig. 18, 38; Fig. 69, 33; Fig. 70, 42).--This muscle, triangular in shape, better developed in the carnivora than in the horse, arises from the spine of the ischium, or from the supracotyloid crest, which replaces this latter in the solipeds and the ruminants. Thence its fleshy ma.s.s is directed upwards, expanding as it proceeds to be inserted into the transverse processes of the first two coccygeal vertebrae after insinuating itself between two of the following muscles, the lateral and inferior sacro-coccygeal.

In the dog and cat, the muscle is in great part covered by the great gluteal. In the ox, by a peculiar arrangement of the corresponding region of the muscles of the thigh--an arrangement which we will examine in connection with the study of the latter--it is more exposed than in the horse, and gives origin to an outline which corresponds to its general form in the region situated immediately below the root of the tail.

It is a depressor of the whole caudal appendix.

=The Superior Sacro-coccygeal= (Fig. 68, 39; Fig. 69, 34; Fig. 70, 43).--The fasciculi which form this muscle arise from the crest of the sacrum, and proceed thence to end successively on the coccygeal vertebrae. It is in contact in the middle line with the corresponding muscle of the opposite side.

It raises the tail and inclines it laterally; if the muscle of one side contracts at the same time as that of the other the tail is elevated directly.

=The Lateral Sacro-coccygeal= (Fig. 68, 40; Fig. 69, 35; Fig. 70, 44).--Situated on the lateral part of the caudal region, this muscle arises, in the dog, from the internal border of the iliac bone and the external border of the sacrum; in the horse, it arises from the crest of the sacrum. It is inserted into the coccygeal vertebrae.

It produces lateral movement of the tail.

=The Inferior Sacro-coccygeal= (Fig. 68, 41; Fig. 69, 36; Fig. 70, 43).--This muscle, which is fairly thick, arises from the inferior surface of the sacrum and the corresponding surface of the sacro-sciatic ligament; it is inserted into the coccygeal vertebrae.

It depresses the caudal appendix.

Muscles of the Neck

=Mastoido-humeralis= (Fig. 66, 3; Fig. 68, 9, 9, 10; Fig. 69, 12; Fig.

70, 15).--One of the most important muscles of the region of the neck in man is the sterno-cleido mastoid. We recollect that, in its inferior part, it is divided into two bundles, one of which arises from the manubrium of the sternum, and the other from the inner third of the clavicle, whence the denominations of the _sternal_ portion and _clavicular_ portion. The muscle formed by the union of these two portions is then directed obliquely outwards, backwards, and upwards, to be inserted into the mastoid process of the temporal bone and the two external thirds of the superior curved line of the occipital bone.

Now, the animals which we are here considering have but a rudimentary clavicle or are entirely without it. From the absence of this item of the skeleton there necessarily result modifications in the arrangement of the muscles of this region, which we must at the very outset explain, before undertaking the special study of the muscle which is the subject of the present paragraph.

Let us suppose, for the more definite arrangement of our ideas, that the clavicle is altogether absent, although we do find it in a rudimentary state in some animals and completely developed in others (marmot, bat), and we will proceed to indicate what this absence determines.

The great pectoral muscle in man arises in part from the clavicle; this origin not being possible in animals which have no clavicle, its attachments, as we have already seen, are concentrated on the sternum.

The trapezius in man similarly arises in part from the clavicle; for the reasons above indicated its clavicular fasciculi cannot exist in distinct form in the animals which have no clavicle.

The sterno-cleido mastoid, whose inferior attachments we mentioned above, cannot have a clavicular portion.

It is the same in the case of the deltoid, which, we know, arises in part from the anterior bone of the shoulder.

Of the four muscles which have partial clavicular origins in man, two are known to us in connection with animals--the great pectoral and the trapezius. What has become of the other two, the sterno-cleido mastoid and the deltoid?

It is this which we now proceed to investigate. After a fashion simple enough, but which it is necessary to describe, the clavicular fasciculi of the trapezius and the corresponding fasciculi of the sterno-cleido mastoid are united the one to the other; the portion of the deltoid which in man arises from the clavicle, by reason of the absence of this latter, is also combined with the fleshy ma.s.s formed by the preceding muscles. From this fusion results the muscle known as the mastoido-humeral. This muscle, which consists of a long fleshy band situated on the lateral aspect of the neck, takes its origin, as a general rule, from the posterior surface of the skull and the upper part of the neck, from which it pa.s.ses obliquely downwards and backwards, covering the scapulo-humeral angle--that is, the region known as the point of the shoulder or arm--and is inserted into the anterior border of the humerus, the border which, limiting anteriorly the musculo-spiral groove, forms a continuation of the deltoid impression. On account of the regions with which it is related, Bourgelat named this muscle _the muscle common to the head, neck, and arm_.

It is at the level of the scapulo-humeral angle that the vestiges of the clavicle are found.

This bone is represented in some animals--the pig, ox, and horse--by a single tendinous intersection, more or less apparent, which extends transversely from the scapula to the anterior extremity of the sternum.

In the dog and the cat, we find, besides, on the deep surface of the muscle and at the level of this tendinous intersection, the rudiment of the clavicle of which we made mention in the section on Osteology (see p. 25).

It is beneath the intersection, the existence of which we have just pointed out, that is found that portion of the mastoido-humeral muscle which corresponds to the clavicular fasciculi of the deltoid; that portion which is situated above the intersection corresponds to the clavicular fibres of the sterno-cleido-mastoid and of the trapezius.

The mastoido-humeral presents certain varieties in different animals.

In the dog and the cat, this muscle, which is blended above with the sterno-mastoid (see p. 153), to be inserted with it into the mastoid process and the mastoid crest, covers the neck for a considerable extent from the superior curved line of the occipital bone to which it is attached, to the trapezius with which it unites posteriorly, but from which it separates below. Between these two extreme points of its superior portion it is attached to the cervical ligament.

In the pig and in ruminants, in which the trapezius approaches more closely to the head, the mastoido-humeral occupies, in consequence, a less extent of the cervical region.

In the horse, the mastoido-humeral neither covers the neck nor joins the trapezius; indeed, we have already shown that it is separated by a considerable distance from the head. In the limited interval between these two muscles a part of the rhomboid and parts of other muscles are seen with which we shall soon be occupied.

This muscle, as regards the horse, is described by some anatomists as consisting of two parts: one anterior, or superficial; the other posterior, or deep. In reality, the first only corresponds to the mastoido-humeral, which we are considering; the posterior may be more exactly regarded as representing a special muscle of quadrupeds, but which is here a little deformed, the _omo-trachelian_ (see p. 155).

When the mastoido-humeral contracts, taking its fixed point above, it acts as an extensor of the humerus, and carries the entire fore-limb forwards. If it takes its fixed point below--that is to say, at the humerus--it inclines the head and neck to its own side. If it contracts at the same time as the mastoido-humeral of the opposite side, then the head and the neck are carried into the position of extension.

=The Sterno-mastoid= (Fig. 66, 5; Fig. 68, 11; Fig. 69, 15; Fig. 70, 17).--Having described the clavicular portion of the sterno-cleido-mastoid in connection with the mastoido-humeral, because it forms a part of the latter, we have, in order to complete the h.o.m.ologies of this muscle, to study now that which corresponds to its sternal portion. This is the _sterno-mastoid_ muscle. In all the quadrupeds with which we are here concerned this muscle arises from the anterior extremity of the sternum; narrow and elongated in form, it pa.s.ses towards the head in a direction parallel to the anterior border of the mastoido-humeral, from which it is separated by an inters.p.a.ce which, along its whole length, lodges superficially the jugular vein; hence the name of _jugular groove_, which is given to this part of the neck (Fig. 10, 18).