Any dog owner that has run playfully through the backyard or a local park with their beloved pet has no doubt marveled at the speed and graceful maneuverability a dog possesses. Like other mammals on planet Earth, dogs have a complex skeletal and muscular system designed to support both voluntary and involuntary movements. However, since dogs do not share the same body type as a human, that means it has a different musculoskeletal system than humans.
The muscular anatomy of a dog, while serving the same purpose in a dog, differs in structure and function from the muscular system in a human body. Just as the human muscular system is composed of units of tissue connected to the skeletal system, skin, and other muscles, a dog’s muscle anatomy is arranged in a similar fashion. Additionally, both muscular systems use the power of contraction to produce movement. From here, it becomes too difficult to compare the muscle anatomy of dogs and humans.