Muscular and Tendinous Anatomy of the Feline Crus and Pes.

This study provides a detailed anatomical analysis of the distal pelvic limb musculature in the domestic cat (Felis catus), focusing on intrinsic muscles and their relationships with the extrinsic muscle-tendon system. The aim was to document muscle morphology, origin-insertion patterns, tendon courses, and morphometric parameters, while addressing terminological inconsistencies. Ten adult cat cadavers (five males and five females) were dissected in a proximodistal manner under stereomicroscopic guidance, examining the cranial/dorsal and caudal/plantar regions of the crus and pes. The results demonstrated a distinct organization of the distal membrum pelvinum muscles, with notable features in the m. flexor digitorum profundus, m. popliteus, m. soleus, and intrinsic plantar musculature. The digital flexor apparatus, lumbrical attachments, and bipartite structure of the m. abductor digiti V were characterized. No discrete tendinous or connective tissue linkage between the m. flexor digitorum profundus tendon and the manica flexoria (derived from the m. flexor digitorum superficialis tendon) was identified. Morphometric analysis revealed sex-related differences, with males generally exhibiting greater absolute muscle dimensions. However, size-normalized data indicated a more complex pattern, with relatively larger muscle proportions in females for several muscle groups, while short muscles more frequently showed relatively greater dimensions in males. Overall, this study establishes a comprehensive anatomical framework for the distal pelvic limb in the domestic cat and provides baseline morphometric data for future functional and comparative investigations.