The document summarizes the muscles of the forelimb in cattle. It describes the extrinsic muscles that connect the forelimb to the trunk, and the intrinsic muscles of the shoulder, arm, carpal/digital joints, and flexor/extensor groups. Key muscles mentioned include the trapezius, rhomboids, latissimus dorsi, pectorales, deltoid, biceps brachii, triceps brachii, and superficial/deep digital flexors. The origin, insertion, action, blood supply and nerve innervation are provided for many of the major muscles.

1. BY-
VIVEK KUMAR PRAJAPAT
Collegeofveterinaryandanimalscience,Bikaner
MUSCLES OF
FORE LIMB

2. Muscles of the Forelimb
Extrinsic Musculature
 These muscle are responsible for
joining
 the forelimb to the head ,neck and
trunk forming forming a synsarcosis
rather than a conventional joint.
 Collectively, they act to transfer the
weight of the body to the forelimbs as
well as stabilize the scapula.

4. MUSCLE OF SHOULDER
GIRDLE
Trapezius:
 Is a flat triangular muscle grouped
under Dorsal division of first layer
muscle .
 Origin: mid-dorsal raphe and
supraspinous ligament Insertion: spine
of the scapula
 Body: two parts, cervical and thoracic
separated by aponeurosis
 Action: raises scapula against the trunk
and
 swings cranially and dorsaly to advance
the limb.
 Blood supply – Deep cervical branch of
costo cervical artery and intercostal
artery.
 Nerve supply – 11th cranial nerve
(spinal accessory)

5. Rhomboides:
 Forms the hump of bovine.
 Origin: summits of 1st to 8th thoracic spine
and nuchal ligament
 Insertion: medial surface of the cartilage
of the scapula.
 Action: It helps to move the shoulder
forward and upward.
 Blood supply – Deep cervical branch and
dorsal branch of costo cervical artery.
 Nerve supply – branch from 5th to 7th
cervical spinal nerve.

7. Brachiocephalicus
 Two parts separated by the
clavicle
 Origin: the wing of the atlas,
nuchal ligamentum, mandible,
temporal bone.
 Insertion: the deltoid tuberosity
and crest of the humerus. The
ventral part attaches to the
mastoid process.
 Actions: advances the limb and
extends the shoulder joint when
limb is in motion draws head
and neck ventrally when limb is
fixed.
 Blood supply – Anterior
circumflex, inferior cervical,
vertebral and carotid arteries.
 Nerve supply – 11th cranial
nerve and cervical spinal nerve.

9. Latissimus dorsi
 Very wide muscle having
right-angled triangle shape.
 The broadest muscle of the
back
 Origin: Lumbar and dorsal
spines.
 Insertion: teres major
tuberosity of the humerus
 Actions: flexing the
shoulder.
 Blood supply – thoracodorsal
branch of subscapular artery.
 Nerve supply –
thoracodorsal branch from
branchial plexus

10. Serratus ventralis ( cervicis and thoracis)
1. S. Cervicis
 Origin: transverse processes of 2nd to 7th cervical vertebrae
and lateral surface of 1st to 5th ribs.
 Insertion: The rough triangular area at the cranio-dorsal part of
the medial surface of scapula.
 Action: extend the neck and to pull the cervical angle of
scapula.
 Blood supply – Dorsal branch of costocervical artery.
 Nerve supply – 5th to 8th cervical spinal nerve
2. S. Thoracis
 Origin: lateral surface of 4th to 9th rib.
 Insertion: the rough triangular area at the caudo-dorsal part of
the medial surface of scapula.
 Action: Rise the thorax and individually pull the scapula dorsa
caudally.
 Blood supply – Intercostal artery.
 Nerve supply – 7th & 8th cervical spinal nerve

11. Omo transversarious
 Flat long muscle.
 Origin: Wings of atlas.
 Insertion: Spine of the scapula.
 Action: Ventral angle of scapula
cranio-dorsally.
 Blood supply – branch of carotid and
inferior cervical arteries.
 Neve supply- 11th cranial & some
cervical spinal nerve.

12. Superficial Pectorales
muscles
Anterior :
 Two superficial parts, cranial and caudal
 Origin: cranial sternum
 Insertion: Anterior :(descending): crest of the
humerus distal to the deltoid tuberosity.
Posterior :(transverse): covers elbow
joint to insert on the medial fascia of the
forearm
 Action: adduct the forelimb, assist in
protraction and retraction
 Nerve supply: Forms the brachial plexus.
 Blood supply- External thoracic, internal
thoracic and anterior circumflex arteries.

13. Deep Pectorales muscles
 Pectoralis ascendens - is the largest of the
pectorial group.
 One deep part (pectoralis profundus), with
cranial and caudal parts
 Origin: ventral sternum and adjacent cartilage
 Insertions: cranial (subclavius): supraspinatus
muscle .
 Caudal (pectoralis ascendens): lesser tubercle of
the humerus
 Actions: slinging trunk between forelimbs may
also retract free limbs draw trunk forward when
limb is fixed.
 Blood supply – cranial circumflex, internal and
external thoracic arteries.
 Nerve supply – Pectoral branch of brachial
plexus.

14. Intrinsic Musculature
 These muscles are grouped:
Lateral apects :
Supraspinatus
 Suprascapular of the brachial plexus
 Origin: the fossae of the scapula
 Insertion: both tubercles of the humerus
 Action: To extend the shoulder.
 Blood supply – superficial cervical and
suprascapular arteries.
 Nerve supply – suprascapular nerve.

15. Deltoidus
 Lies partly on triceps brachi
in the angle b/n the scapula
and the humerus ,partly on
infraspinatus and teres minor.
 Origin: proximal and caudal
scapula, the length of the
scapular spine
 Insertion: deltoid tuberosity
on the humerus, fascia of the
lateral arm
 Action –to flex the shoulder
joint abduct the limb.
 Blood supply – subscaplar
and posterior circumflex
arteries.
 Nerve supply – Circumflex
nerve.

16. Infraspinatus
 Infrarascapular of the brachial plexus
 Origin: infra spinatus fossa and
scapular cartilage
 Insertion: greater tubercle of the
humerus distal to the supraspinatus
 Action: to abduct the arm and rotate it
lateraly
 Blood supply – subscaplar and
posterior circumflex arteries.
 Nerve supply – Supra scapular nerve.

17. Teres Minor
 This muscle is in the form of a small
elongated bundle situated below
infraspinatus muscle.
 Origin: dorsal part of the caudal
scapula,distal and caudal part of infra
spinatus fossa.
 Insertion:deltoid tuberosity,and small area
proximal to it, teres minor tuberosity.
 Action-flex the shoulder, adduct the arm,
assist lateral rotation.
 Blood supply – subscaplar and posterior
circumflex arteries.
 Nerve supply – Circumflex nerve.

18. Medial aspect :
Subscapular:
 Origin: Subscapular fossa and
scapular cartilage.
 Insertion:caudal eminence of the
lesser tubercle of the humerus
 Action: braces medial shoulder
joint, potential adductor of the
humerus.
 Blood supply – suprascapular and
subscapular arteries.
 Nerve supply – subscapular
branch of brachial plexus.
Coracobrachialis:
 Origin: coracoid process of the
scapula
 Insertion: proximal shaft of the
humerus
 Action: to adduct the arm and to
flex the shoulder joint.
 Blood supply – Anterior circumflex
artery.
 Nerve supply – musculo
cutaneous branch from brachial
plexus.

19.  Teres Major
 •Aflat wide muscle and
lies chiefly on the
medialface of
tricepsbrachi.
 Origin: dorsal part of the
caudal scapula
 Insertion: teres major
tuberosity midway down
humerus
 Action-to flex the
shoulder joint and adduct
the arm.
 Blood supply –
Subscapular artery.
 Nerve supply – branch
from brachial plexus.

20. Muscle of the
arm
Biceps brachii:
 lies on the cranial
surface of the humerus
 Origin: The tuber
scapuli.
 Insertion: Radial
tuberosity and proximal
end of ulna.
 Action: to flex the elbow
joint.
 Blood supply – Anterior
circumflex artery.
 Nerve supply – musculo
cutaneous branch from
brachial plexus.

21. Brachialis :
 Lies in the sulcus of the humerus
 Origin: The area behind the head of
humerus
 Insertion: Medial aspect of the proximal
end of radius and proximal end of ulna.
 Action : to flex the elbow
 Blood supply – branch from brachial
artery.
 Nerve supply – branch of radial &
median nerve.

22.  Tensor fasciae antebrachii
 Thin muscle which lies on the medial
surface of the long head of the
tricepsbrachi.
 Origin: tendon of insertion of the
latissimus dorsi and caudal scapula
 Insertion : The olecranon process of
ulna.
 Action : to tense the fascia of the
forearm and to extend the elbow.
 Blood supply –Subscapular artery and
branches from brachial artery.
 Nerve supply – Branch from Radial

23. Triceps brachi
 Has three heads
1. Long head:
◦ Origin -caudal margin of the scapula.
◦ Insertion : The olecranon process of ulna.
◦ Action –to extend the elbow,to flex the shoulder
2. Lateral head:
◦ Origin- shaft of the humerus.
◦ Insertion : The olecranon process of ulna.
3. Medial head:
◦ Origin-body of huemrus.
◦ Insertion : The olecranon process of ulna.
◦ Action-to extend the elbow
 Blood supply – Deep brachial and posterior
cercumflex arteries.
 Nerve supply – Branch of radial nerve.

24. Anconeus
 Small muscle, cover the olecranon fossa
covered
 Origin: the distal third of the caudal
humerus
 Insertion : The olecranon process of
ulna.
 Action: extend the elbow.
 Blood supply –Posterior cercumflex
arteries.

25. Muscles of the Carpal and
Digital Joints Craniolateral position on the
forearm
 Almost all originate from the lateral
condyle or epicondyle of the
humerus.
 Almost nerve supply is branch of
radial nerve.
Extensor carpi radialis:
 Most medial, inserts on middle
metacarpal bone
 Action –to extend and fix the carpal
joint, to flex the elbow joint.
 Blood supply – branch of brachial
artery.
Extensor carpi obliquus:
 Origin: cranial radius
 Insertion: 1st metacarpal
 Last two may also serve in medial
deviation of the paw
 Blood supply – branches of
interosseous artery.
 Nerve supply – branch of radial

26. Common Digital Extensor
 Insertion: extensor process of the distal
phalanx of each digit
 Sends a medial branch to dew caw.
 Blood supply – branch of brachial artery.
Lateral Digital Extensor
 Insertion: dorsal proximal phalanges of 3rd to
5th digit.
 Blood supply – branch of brachial artery and
interosseous artery.
Medial Digital Extensor
 Insertion: muscle become long tedinous at
the lower part of forearm and insert on 2nd
and 3rd phalanges of medial digit.
 Blood supply – branch of brachial artery.

27. Flexors Groop
 Caudal position on the forearm
 Almost Originate from the caudal medial
condyle & epicondyle of the humerus.
Pronator teres:
 Insertion – at the upper 3rd of the medial
surface of radius.
 Blood supply – branch of median artery.
 Nerve supply – branch of median nerve.
Flexor carpi radialis:
 Most medial, inserts on upper 2nd/3rd
metacarpal bone.
 Blood supply – branch of median artery.
 Nerve supply – branch of median nerve.

28. Ulnaris lateralis
 Most lateral, inserts on accessory carpal
bone and 5th metacarpal.
 Blood supply – branches of brachial and
interosseous artery.
Nerve supply – branch of radial nerve.
Interosseus muscles
 Support metacarpophalnageal joints
 Arise from palmar proximal metacarpal
bones and insert on sesamoid bones
within the joints, continued by ligaments
to phalanges

29. Flexor carpi ulnaris:
 Most lateral, inserts on the accessory carpal bone.
 Blood supply – branches of branchial & median artery.
 Nerve supply – branches of ulnar & median nerve.
Superficial Digital Flexor
 It divides into four branches which insert on the middle
phalanges of all digits.
 Blood supply – branch of median artery and
interosseous artery.
 Nerve supply – branches of ulnar & median nerve.
Deep Digital Flexor
 Passes through carpal canal before branching and
continues to palmar distal phalanges.
 Blood supply – branch of median artery and
interosseous artery.
 Nerve supply – branches of ulnar & median nerve.