Musculus sacrocaudalis dorsalis medialis
Elevates the tail dorsally (lifts it straight up). Works with the lateral dorsal muscle for combined elevation and lateral movement.
Origin: Spinous processes of sacral and caudal vertebrae
Insertion: Dorsal caudal vertebrae
Action: Elevates the tail dorsally
Innervation: Caudal (coccygeal) spinal nerves
Loss of tail elevation tone is an important early indicator of neurological disease affecting the sacral spinal cord or cauda equina.
Loss of tail elevation tone is an important early indicator of neurological disease affecting the sacral spinal cord or cauda equina. Signs include: Reduced tail tone (tail feels heavy and limp when lifted); inability to clamp tail against perineum; may be early sign of EHV-1 myelopathy, EPM, or polyneuritis equi.
See the Sacrocaudalis Dorsalis Medialis on our interactive 3D horse model. Open 3D Model