Palpation of Limb Joints and Structures

General Tips for Palpation

• Utilize limb movement when palpating to better locate joints and structures.
• Use lifting and moving of the limb to aid in palpation, especially around joints.

Shoulder Joint (Scapular Humeral Joint)

• Point of the Shoulder: Greater tubercle.
• Palpation landmarks:
  • Greater tubercle
  • Scapular humeral joint
  • Acromion and spine of the scapula
• Muscles around shoulder:
  • Supraspinatus and Infraspinatus

Upper Limb and Elbow

• Triceps and Deltoid Tuberosity: Easily palpable.
• Greater and Lesser Tubercle: Palpable with limb movement; Intertubercular groove between them contains tendon of biceps brachii.
• Elbow Joint: Olecranon easily palpable.
• Epicondyles of Humerus: Medial and lateral epicondyles are prominent; flexing limb can help in palpation.

Forearm and Carpal Joint

• Ulna and Radius:
  • Ulna is most lateral bone
  • Hard to feel the head of the radius, but possible with movement
• Styloid Processes: Lateral and medial easily palpable when flexing carpal joint.
• Carpal Joint and Metacarpal Joint:
  • Annular brachial carpal joint
  • Metacarpal joint palpable

Digits and Phalanges

• Joint Palpation:
  • Carpal metacarpal joint
  • Pastern joint
  • Distal interphalangeal joint (Coffin joint)
• Pads:
  • Digital and metacarpal pads are important for joint protection

Protraction and Retraction of Limb

• Limb protraction involves extending most joints.
• Limb retraction involves flexing joints.

Long Bones and Muscles

• Humerus, Radius, and Ulna: Main long bones in forelimb.
• Muscle Groups:
  • Brachiocephalicus muscle near shoulder
  • Trapezius, latissimus dorsi, and serratus ventralis palpable around scapula

Rear Limb and Pelvis

• Pelvic Landmarks:
  • Tuber sacrale, tuber coxae, tuber ischii
  • Greater trochanter can be felt with hip movement
• Femur and Tibia:
  • Patellar ligament and tibial tuberosity as landmarks
  • Condyles of tibia and femoral patellar joint

Common Calcaneal Tendon

• Components:
  • Tendon of gastrocnemius (Achilles tendon)
  • Superficial digital flexor tendon
  • Lateral tarsal tendon (from biceps femoris)
  • Medial tarsal tendon (from semitendinosus and gracilis)

Tarsals and Digits

• Similar to metacarpals in naming and numbering.
• No tarsal pad in dogs and cats.

Flexion and Extension in Hind Limb

• Hock Joint: Flexor surface on dorsal side, extensor on caudal side.
• Digits: Flex and extend similarly to forelimb digits.
• Propulsion Phase: Extension of hip, stifle, and hock, while flexing digits.