Fig. 1.1 Surface features of the dog: left lateral view. This picture is intended to show in a very basic manner the major parts of the body. Consequently the descriptive terminology used in the labelling of the drawing is deliberately kept in very general terms and in some cases colloquial terms in frequent use have been included. More detailed consideration of surface anatomy of the various parts of the body (head and neck; thorax, abdomen and pelvis; and the limbs) are shown later in this introductory chapter. Fig. 1.1A at the foot of the page shows the major topographical regions into which the body is descriptively subdivided. Viewing the body in terms of regions is especially useful for describing the position of internal organs in relation to the surface. More detailed subdivisions of these main topographical regions are illustrated later in this chapter.

Fig. 1.1A Topographical regions of the dog: left lateral view. 1 Cranial Regions. 2 Facial Regions. 3-5 Neck Regions. 3 Dorsal Neck Region. 4 Lateral Neck Region. 5 Ventral Neck Region. 6-7 Dorsal Regions. 6 Thoracic Vertebral Region. 7 Lumbar Region. 8-10 Thoracic (Pectoral) Regions. 8 Presternal Region. 9 Sternal Region. 10 Costal Region. 11-13 Abdominal Regions. 11 Cranial Abdominal Region. 12 Middle Abdominal Region. 13 Caudal Abdominal Region. 14 Pelvic Region. 15-18 Forelimb (Thoracic Limb) Regions. 15 Scapular Region. 16 Brachial Region. 17 Antebrachial Region. 18 Forepaw (Manus) Region. 19-21 Hindlimb (Pelvic Limb) Regions. 19 Femoral Region. 20 Crural Region. 21 Hindpaw (Pes) Region.

Fig. 1.2 Skeleton of the dog: left lateral view. As with the surface view on the accompanying page the drawing of the skeleton is intended to show in a very general manner the major components of the skeleton. In general terms the skeleton is divisible into two parts according to its position in the body. Axial skeleton – the skeletal basis of the head, neck, trunk and tail, consisting of the vertebral column, ribs and sternum, and the skull. Appendicular skeleton – bones of the limbs and associated girdles attaching the limb to the trunk. Absent from this skeletal preparation is the fragile hyoid apparatus, a skull component which in life suspends the tongue and larynx in the floor of the throat, and the os penis developed in the soft tissues of the free end of the penis.

Fig. 1.2A Variation in conformation of the dog: left lateral views. The wide variation in body shape within the species is shown by three examples from the more than 300 existing breeds of domestic dog: A – Dachshund; B – Staffordshire Bull Terrier; C – Hungarian Vizla.