The hind limb consists of hip, thigh, leg and pes (tarsal, metatarsal and phalanges).

THE OS- COXAE

The hip bone, the largest flat bone in the body, Ilium, Ischium and Pubis are united at Acetabulum. Pelvic girdle includes the os coxae of either side. Bony pelvis includes the os coxae, sacrum and first second and third Coccygeal vertebrae. Ilium has body and wide wing, Gluteal and pelvic surfaces. Tuber coxae and Tuber sacrale. Ischium has four borders and two surfaces. Tuber Ischi. Ischium has two rami, medial forms symphysis and lateral goes to Acetabulum. Obturator foramen is oval in shape. Pubis has dorsal and ventral surfaces and cranial and caudal borders.

Pubic tubercle, pubic groove, pectin and iliopubic eminence. Pubis has two rami, medial forms symphysis and lateral goes to Acetabulum

HORSE           Tuber coxae is narrow in the middle. Tuber sacral forms the highest point of the body.                             Tuber Ischii is thick three sided mass. Acetabulum has single notch. Ischial arch is wide and shallow.

OX                  Tuber coxae is wide in the middle. Tuber sacral is truncated. Tuber Ischii has three                                  (Dorsal, vevtral and lateral tuberosities) prominences.

                        Acetabulum has two notches.                           

                        Pelvic symphysis has thick ventral ridge.

            Median sacral crest form   the highest point of the body

THE FEMUR   (Thigh)

A long bone. Proximal extremity bear trochanters. Head bears fovea capitis. Distal extremity bears two condyles and Intercondylar and supracondylar fossa and supracondylar tuberosities. On dorsal part of the distal extremity patella bone articulates at trochlea

HORSE           Third trochanter is present. Greater trochanter is divided by a notch. Fovea capitis is                                larger and deeper. Supra condyloid fossa is deeper. Trochanteric crest form the lateral                              boundary of the trochanteric fossa. Trochanteric crest connects the greater and third                                 trochanters.

OX                  Have deep trochanteric fossa. Have single greater trochanter. Trochanteric crest form the                         caudal boundary of the trochanteric fossa. Trochanteric crest connects the greater and      lesser trochanters. Supra condyloid fossa is shallow

THE TIBIA AND FIBULA (Leg)

Long bones.  Proximal extremity bears two glenoid cavities, two spines and cranial and caudal Intercondylar areas. Tibial tuberosity and tibial crest. Tibia is prismatic at proximal third. Distal extremity of tibia forms medial Malleolus. Fibula is much reduced bone, lies lateral to tibia. Distal extremity of fibula forms lateral Malleolus. Lateral surface of the shaft is concave.

HORSE           Tibial tuberosity is divided. Shaft is straight. Distal articular surface is oblique. Posterior                          surface of the shaft is divided by popliteal line into two parts. Fibula is reduced to head    and shaft only. Lateral malleolus is fused.

 OX                  Fibula is a blunt pointed projection. Shaft is curved medially.

                        Patella is more pointed distally.

Lateral malleolus is a separate bone.

THE TARSAL (HOCK)

These are short bones. Present in two or three rows

HORSE Six bones

                        Tibial t. Fibular t.         

                        Central t.

                        1 /2,     3rd,      4th

Calcaneus is quadrangular. Tibial tarsal has one trochlea

OX      Five bones

Tibial t.             Fibular t.         

Central/4th t

1st, 2/3rd t.

Tuber calcani is grooved. Calcaneus is elongated. Tibial tarsal has double trochlea

THE METATARSALS

Long bones.

HORSE           Shaft is rounded and there are no grooves

Mt. 2,   Mt. 3rd  and Mt. 4 are present.

OX            Shaft is clearly four sided. Mt.2,  Mt.3/4. Dorsal and planter groove are deeper and wider than corresponding metacarpals. Nutrient foramen perforates from caudal 1/3rd of proximal surface and opens at proximal extremity

THE PHALANGES

Short bones

HORSE           Only one the third digit is present. Single hoof is present.

                        Third phalanx is enclosed by hoof.

OX                   Four digits are present, two of which are vestigial and two are fully functional.

                        Third phalanx is enclosed by hoof.

THE RIBS AND STERNUM

Modified long bones. Each rib has a head, neck, tubercle and a shaft. Each rib has vertebral and Sternal extremity, lateral and medial surfaces, cranial and caudal borders. The first rib is shortest, distal end is widest, and costal groove is absent. The last rib is most slender, head and tubercle are fused.

6-7 sternebrae, Costal cartilages, xiphoid process and xiphoid cartilage

HORSE           Ribs                             18

                        Sternal ribs                   8

Asternal ribs                 10

Sternebrae                    7

Sternum latertrally compressed

Ventral crest is present

First rib has two facets on head are of unequal size, smaller one is cranial.

The distal ends of the first rib articulate with each other and with sternum.

Tubercles of ribs are convex

OX                  Ribs                             13

Sternal ribs                   8

Asternal ribs                 5

Sternebrae                    7

                        Sternum dorsoventrally compressed. 

                        Manubrium is wedge shaped and laterally compressed.                          

                        Cariniform cartilage is absent.

                        Ribs are longer, wider, flatter and less regular and have longer neck.

                        First rib has a smooth and rounded head.

                        Tubercle of the ribs are concave