Publication: A review on the functions of the horse back and longissimus dorsi muscle
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Issued Date
2015
Resource Type
Language
eng
ISSN
1906-2257
Rights
Mahidol University
Rights Holder(s)
Faculty of Veterinary Science Mahidol University
Bibliographic Citation
Journal of Applied Animal Science. Vol.8, No.3 (2015), 9-26
Suggested Citation
Pattama Ritruechai A review on the functions of the horse back and longissimus dorsi muscle. Journal of Applied Animal Science. Vol.8, No.3 (2015), 9-26. Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/13349
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Journal Issue
JAAS Vol. 8 No. 3
(2558)
Thesis
Title
A review on the functions of the horse back and longissimus dorsi muscle
Alternative Title(s)
การทำงานของหลังม้าและกล้ามเนื้อ longissimus dorsi
Author(s)
Abstract
The function of a muscle is to permit movement and maintain posture. Such a key role depends on the
interplay between its anatomical structure and the way is used during movement. From a mechanical sense, a
muscle changes its length to generate force. If it generates force while shortening (concentric), it will generate
mechanical power, and if it generates force whilst it is being stretched (eccentric), it will absorb mechanical
power. The longissimus dorsi, the largest muscle of the horse's back, is of considerable importance for its key
functions on the athletic ability and performance of the animal. In this review, I summarized the anatomy,
functions, biomechanics, and disorders of the horse back. The biomechanics of the horse's back depend on
the interaction between the spinal column and the spinal musculature. Especially, longissimus dorsi muscle
performs different functions both along its length and different regions across each segment. Several studies
have reported muscular disorders in the horse's back such as stiffness and limitation of motion range, as also by
electromyography records on the muscle activity (albeit at single recording sites during locomotion). These
reports are typically isolated observations and no study has yet integrated muscle activity patterns with the
cycles of flexion-extension in any detail, neither a study has linked these factors to the muscle fascicle strains
in the longissimus dorsi. Such studies will be fundamental to fully understand the mechanical role of the
longissimus dorsi, particularly during locomotion, and will develop new treatment techniques for horse
veterinarians. In addition, 3D anatomical measures of the structure in vivo integrated with measures of
function back motion and longissimus dorsi muscle activity would be ideal to understand in further detail
the function of the horse's back.