Pelvic Limb
Hindpaw (Pes)
Tarsal bones: The tarsus, or hock, consists of seven tarsal bones and the related soft tissues. The bones are arranged in three irregular rows. In the proximal row is the long, laterally located calcaneus and a shorter, medially located talus. The talus has a trochlea on its proximal most end with two ridges separated by a groove for articulation with the tibial cochlea. This forms the tarsocrural joint where flextion and extension occur. The calcaneus has a traction process, the tuber calcanei that projects proximally and caudally. Muscles that extend the hock insert on this process via the common calcanean tndon. Found on the medial surface of the calcaneus is a bony eminence the sustentaculum tali. The distal row of the tarsal bones consists of the first, second and third tarsal bones. They are separated from the proximal row by the central tarsal bone. The forth tarsal bone completes the distal row lateral.
Metatarsal bones: These bones resemble the metacarpal bones except for the first, which may be divided, or sometimes absent.
Phalanges: They are similar to those of the forepaw. The first digit (hallux) is frequently absent, if present, it is called a dewclaw.
