The Alpaca Anatomy Initiative: Musculoskeletal Anatomy Relevant to Lameness and Fracture Repair

Principal investigator:

Jane Manfredi, VMD
Michigan State University

The objective of the study was to meticulously describe the musculoskeletal anatomy of the axial skeleton of adult alpacas. The study has been completed and will provide essential information for veterinarians and surgeons treating musculoskeletal pathologies.

Towards this goal we have:

1. reconstructed the limbs of the alpaca in 3D and published to a shared open access space for easy distribution to others https://sketchfab.com/panekcha. 
2. fully dissected the muscles, vasculature, and nerves of three alpacas, including notation of origins and insertions
3. completed the approaches to both the forelimb and hindlimb long bones and joints
4. had the medical artist complete drawings of the joints and musculature of the fore and hind limbs as well as to the approaches to the long bones.
5. preserved bones for future teaching and imaging
6. determined differences in the approaches to the long bone for fracture repair as compared to the horse and cow
7. determined different anatomy of the neurovasculature of the distal limb as compared to horses and ruminants that can impact regional limb perfusions
8. discovered a muscle of the distal limb not previously described in current references
9. dissected the epaxials and the neck
10. preparing an abstract for submission to ACVS and manuscript for submission to Veterinary Surgery.