Animal Chiropractic Module 4 – Extremities Practice Exam

Forelimb attachment in dogs relies on muscles and the scapulothoracic relationship rather than a clavicle. In canines the clavicle is typically absent or only present as a tiny vestige, so there is no rigid bony link between the forelimb and the trunk. The shoulder girdle sits on the thorax and is held in place and moved mainly by muscles such as serratus ventralis, trapezius, rhomboideus, latissimus dorsi, and the pectoral muscles, with movement governed by the scapulohumeral joint. This arrangement contrasts with humans, where the clavicle acts as a brace between the sternum and the scapula. Therefore, the statement is false: dogs do not have a clavicle that attaches the forelimb to the trunk (in most dogs, the clavicle is absent).