Horse skeleton diagram labeled for kids is an easy-to-use animal skeletal system and bone anatomy vector illustration. This educational scheme with biological detailed explanation is perfect for students and teachers. It is also useful for scientists and medical professionals who need a simple yet precise diagram to explain horse bone anatomy.
Horses have two types of skeletons, the axial and appendicular skeleton. The axial skeleton protects the vital organs and consists of the skull, ribcage, and backbone. The appendicular skeleton supports the forelimbs, hind legs, and pelvis. The axial and appendicular skeletons are connected to each other by joints, which give the horse different degrees of mobility.
The horse has 205 bones in its body. The equine skeleton is very similar to the skeleton of other mammals, although horses have more bones in their forelimbs and less in their hind legs. The limbs of the horse are attached to the rest of the skeleton by ligaments and tendons. A proper skeletal structure is essential for the health of the horse. If the bones are not properly proportioned, the horse cannot move smoothly. If the bones are too long or short, they will not work in harmony with each other and can become damaged.
For the front limbs, the metacarpals III-V are similar in length and width but have different shapes. The metacarpal III has a triangular expansion proximally and a narrow, faint ridge distally. The metacarpal IV has a small, triangular ridge that is absent on the ventral surface, while the metacarpal V has no ridges.
In the hoof, there are three parts: the wall, sole and frog. The wall is made up of the toe (front), quarters, and heel. The sole is a thick pad that contacts the ground. The frog is a dense, fibrous structure that has a single median structure proximally, and separates into bilaterally symmetrical ridges distally, forming a “V”. The frog is capped by soft keratinous lamellae.
For the homework assignment, students will work in pairs and complete the online skeleton activity on the website. They will then fill out a venn diagram choosing three animals to compare, providing 3 similarities and 3 differences between them. They will write an essay that showcases their findings and explains 2 reasons why the similarities matter and 2 reasons why the differences matter in their respected environment.