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Chapter 5 Anatomy and Physiology 77

FIGURE 5.6 Cow lower forelimb – modified by TF Sonsthagen. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Cattle_hooves_and_
feet#/media/File:Ro%C3%9Fthal_2010_Schulfest_11.jpg. Public domain.

Thoracic vertebrae (13)
Cranium Lumbar vertebrae (7) Sacral
Maxilla 3 Fused
Ribs (13)
Mandible
Cervical
vertebrae
(7)
Sternum Coccygeal
# varies

FIGURE 5.7 Axial skeleton.

above the metatarsus sits the calcaneus (hock). Between
the femur and the tibia on the ventral side of the leg is
the patella or knee cap.
Cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs have the same leg bone
structure as horses, but the proximal, middle, and distal pha-
lanx are split into two giving them a cloven or divided toe.
The last two phalanxes are enclosed in the hoof (Figure 5.6).
The axial skeleton consists of the skull, vertebral column,
and thoracic cage (Figure 5.7). The skull has many bones
but the three of concern for us are the cranium which con-
tains and protects the brain, the maxilla and mandible
make up the jaws and hold the teeth. Figure 5.8 demon-
strates where the horns grow from the head of a goat. FIGURE 5.8 Goat’s head. Source: Wikimedia Commons. Used under
The vertebral column is made up of individual verte- CC BY‐SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Goat_
brae. They protect the spinal column and act as an skull_(MAV_FMVZ_USP).jpg.