Equine Massage: A Practical Guide (6 page)

The normal heart rate at rest is 28 to 40 beats per minute, and up to between 210 and 280 beats per minute during exercise.The heart forces blood into the arteries, to the
arterioles
(smaller arteries) and then to the
capillaries
(minute blood vessels in the tissues), where the oxygen/carbon dioxide and nutrients/waste exchanges occur.

The blood returns via the
venules
(small veins) to the veins, to the heart, to the lungs, then back again to the heart for another cycle into the arteries. The venous blood transports metabolic waste and carbon dioxide from the cells of the tissues to the heart and lungs (where the oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange takes place).The venous return of blood is assisted by the movement of the large locomotor muscle groups of the body.Veins are equipped with little cuplike valves to prevent the backward flow of blood.

Each muscle contraction squeezes the venous blood in one direction, toward the heart.

Normal functioning of all body tissue depends on the proper circulation of blood. However, after an injury it is even more
Anatomy and Physiology of the Horse

13

important that an adequate supply of blood—bearing nutrients, oxygen, and healing material—reaches the site of injury. The blood will also remove waste, debris, or any toxins formed as a result of the injury.

The circulatory system controls the horse’s body temperature.

When the body is cold, the capillaries in those parts of the body farthest away from the heart constrict. Blood circulation is therefore reduced in the extremities, keeping most of the blood at the body’s core in order to warm vital organs (brain, heart, and lungs.) Conversely, if the body is hot, the capillaries dilate, allowing more blood through the capillaries that are near the surface of the skin.

Therefore, heat from the core of the body is released through the skin.

The pressure of massage movements has an effect on the circulation of blood throughout the body. Chapter 6 contains massage routines that can be used to deal with problems related to, or caused by, poor circulation.

The Lymphatic System

The lymphatic system plays an important role in the body’s defense mechanism in that it contains
lymphocytes
(white blood cells that aid in fighting viral and bacterial infections). It is the body’s first line of defense.When the body is injured, an increase of lymphatic fluid occurs at the site of trauma and produces swelling.

The lymphatic system consists of a network of small vessels containing lymphatic fluid and structures called
lymph nodes
(which are like miniature cleansing factories). There are twice as many lymph vessels as there are blood vessels.This system also filters and removes debris and waste material.

The lymphatic system sends fluid in only one direction—from the periphery of the body toward the heart.The circulation of the lymphatic fluid is slow, almost sluggish. Like veins, lymph vessels are equipped with cup-shaped valves to prevent backflow of the fluid. Muscle activity, breathing movements, and peristaltic activity of the bowels all contribute to the flow of lymphatic fluid.

Lack of exercise can contribute to
lymphatic congestion
, which results in swelling in the limbs. Overloading the lymphatic system as a result of too much exercise can cause a buildup of toxins, which leads to an inflammation of the lymph vessels and lymph nodes.

Following an injury, reduced muscular activity contributes to the slowing of lymphatic circulation. Massage with light drainage (effleurage movements) will assist lymphatic circulation. (Chapter 6

offers a recuperation routine that can help speed up recovery.

Basically, the purpose of the recuperation routine is to prevent lactic
14

Equine Massage

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Anatomy and Physiology of the Horse

15

acid buildup after heavy training, racing, or competition.This routine will help prevent muscle stiffness, cramps, or tying up.) Massage does not directly affect the following four systems, but it does assist with the circulation of fluids (blood and lymph), allowing more nutrients and oxygen to reach the associated tissues.

Massage also relaxes the central nervous system, contributing to an improved overall functioning of these four systems.

The Endocrine System

Made up of glands and associated organs, the endocrine system produces and releases hormones directly into the bloodstream.

These hormones regulate growth, development, and a variety of other functions, including reproduction and metabolism.

The Digestive System

The digestive system alters the chemical and physical composition of food so it can be absorbed and utilized by the horse’s body.The gastrointestinal tract is a musculo-membranous tube that extends from the mouth to the anus (approximately 100 feet long). The digestive organs of the horse are the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, cecum, large intestine, and anus.A healthy digestive tract is vital for the efficient assimilation of food. A balanced diet is very important for good performance and general well-being.

The Urinary System

The urinary system maintains the balance of fluids in the body and eliminates waste products from the body.The urinary system consists of a pair of kidneys, the ureters, the bladder, and the urethra. The kidneys provide a blood-filtering system to remove many waste products, and to control water balance, pH, and the level of many electrolytes. The kidney filtrate is urine, which is conveyed to the bladder by the 2 ureters. From there it is evacu-ated via the urethra. Proper urinary functioning avoids kidney failure and all its consequences: swelling, toxicity, and weight loss.

The Reproductive System

The reproductive system ensures the continuation of the species.

The male reproductive system consists of the testicles, the acces-sory glands and ducts, and the external genital organ. The female reproductive system consists of the ovaries, oviducts, uterus,

16

Equine Massage

Anatomy and Physiology of the Horse

17

ular

h)

d tarsal

th tarsal

anial and

k or seat bone)

agalus or tib-

k or tuber

ur (cr

[m] thir

[n] four

uttoc

ur

al tarsal bone

m),

m),

[h] talus (astr

[k] centr

ur

hanter of fem

t)

yle of fem

yle of tibia

k),

[j] calcaneus (os calcis or fib

[l] fused first and second tarsal

h

al (point of croup)

xae (point of hip or haunc

hii (point of b

al cond

al cond

al malleolus of tibia

hium

ur

ula

caudal par

ial bone),

tarsal bone),

(scaphoid),

bones (small cuneifor

bone (great cuneifor

bone (cuboid)

calcis)

(45) costal arc

(46) tuber sacr

(47) tuber co

(48) tuber isc

(49) ilium

(50) pubis

(51) isc

(52) fem

(53) head of fem

(54) greater troc

(55) later

(56) patella

(57) tibia

(58) later

(59) later

(60) fib

(61) tarsus (hoc

(62) tuber calcanei (point of hoc

(63) cannon (large metatarsal)

pal

pal

y

amidalyr

adial

pal bone (os

[c] r

adius

pal bone)

d car

d phalanx)

mediate car

[d] accessor

[e] second car

pal bone (unci-

num

pal bone)

pal bone (p

m),

[f] thir

th car

[b] inter

yle of humerus

oid),

m),

[g] four

n bone (first phalanx)

n bone (second phalanx)

tilage of ster

adius

apez

tilage

al cond

anon process of the ulna (point of

al styloid process of r

t paster

pus [a] ulnar car

pal bone (scaphoid),

pal bone (pisifor

m)

ximal sesamoid bones (paired)

num (breastbone)

elbow)

adius

or cuneifor

bone (lunate or semilunar),

car

car

bone (tr

magnum),

for

ib

(26) deltoid tuberosity of humerus

(27) later

(28) olecr

(29) ulna

(30) r

(31) head of r

(32) later

(33) car

(34) cannon (large metacar

(35) splint bone (small metacar

(36) pro

(37) long paster

(38) shor

(39) pedal or coffin bone (thir

(40) distal sesamoid bone (navicular bone)

(41) ster

(42) xiphoid car

(43) r

(44) costal car

vi-

a)

essels

y 18]

a

for passage of

ae]

ertebr

idge)

lood v

ertebr

a

ertebr

vical v

erse process of fifth cer

amina,

ae [18]

ae [usuall

ae [6]

h

ae [7]

ertebr

vical v

ansv

a

al for

ves and b

ertebr

ertebr

ertebr

ertebr

acic v

le

first cer

ertebr

vertebr

,

acic v

aspinous fossa of scapula

aspinous fossa of scapula

k of scapula

vical v

Skeleton of the Horse

anium

cal v

spinal ner

1.5

(1) cr

(2) mandib

(3) zygomatic arc

(4) poll

(5) teeth

(6) bar

(7) cer

(8) atlas

(9) wings of atlas

(10) axis (second cer

(11) expanded tr

(12) inter

(13) thor

(14) last thor

(15) lumbar v

(16) sacrum [5 fused v

(17) coccygeal v

(18) scapula

(19) scapular spine (bone r

(20) supr

(21) infr

(22) nec

(23) humerus

(24) head of humerus

(25) point of shoulder