Cross-references are linked. Words that might get confused between humans and horses are shown in italics. Other terms refer to body parts usually found only on the human upper body or the equine lower body.
| abdomen | The fleshy portion of the barrel between the ribs and the hips, particularly the underside as opposed to the loin. (This term is less colloquial than belly, so it's been assigned to the less-referred of the two possible areas.) |
| arm | One of the pair of limbs on the trunk. (Although a horse's fore leg is also called an arm, the function of limbs on a centaur suggest this as a better definition.) |
| barrel | The horizontal portion of a centaur's torso. (Also, the torso of a quadruped, particularly in the area of the rib cage.) |
| belly | The front fleshy portion of the trunk, below the ribs, extending down to the fore legs and where the barrel turns under. (This is a colloquial term for this body part. It was extended to include the equine chest as that is also unprotected by the rib cage.) |
| cannon | Also called the shank. The segment of the leg from the lowest joint to the second lowest, between the hock and the fetlock. |
| chest | The front of the thorax between the arms. (As with the belly, this part is more prominent than the equine part normally sharing the name.) |
| chestnut | The thickened skin found on a portion of the inner side of the leg, near the hock or the knee. |
| coat | The tonsorial protrusions on the barrel and legs. |
| coatline | Where the coat ends or fades into the less hairy trunk. |
| coronet | The juncture between the flesh of the leg and the hard substance of the hoof. |
| croup | The highest portion of the posterior, just behind the loin. |
| dock | The fleshy portion of the tail. |
| ear | The auditory (hearing) organ located on the head, particularly the external portion. NOTE: There is considerable debate as to the shape of the external ear, with equine and human shapes dividing the majority of opinions. This suggests that centaur hair commonly conceals the ears, but gives no weight to either opinion. |
| elbow | The joint found near the center of the length of the arm. (As with the arm, the function of the upper limb suggests this as a more appropriate usage.) |
| fetlock | Also called the ankle. The lowest joint of the leg, just above the hoof. Also, the hair at this joint. |
| finger | One of the multiple manipulatory and sensory digits found on the hand. |
| foot | The lowest portion of the leg, including (from the bottom up) the hoof, pastern, and fetlock. |
| forearm | The portion of the arm between the hand and the elbow. |
| gaskin | The segment of the hind leg just below the thigh, between the stifle and the hock. |
| hair | Usually referring to the tonsorial protrusions on the head, but also used to refer to similar protrusions anywhere on the body. See also coat. |
| hand | The manipulatory appendage at the end of the arm. Includes fingers. |
| head | The sensory appendage found uppermost on the body. |
| hindquarters | The rearmost body parts, primarily the rear legs and the body immediately adjacent. |
| hip | The joint at the hindquarters where the rear leg connects to the barrel. |
| hock | The second joint on the hind leg below the hip, where the leg angles forward. |
| hoof | The hard lower terminus of the leg, and the only part which is intended to make contact with the ground. |
| knee | The joint in the fore leg above the fetlock and cannon. |
| leg | One of four limbs that support the body and provide mobility. |
| loin | The fleshy part of the barrel between the ribs and the rear legs, particularly the sides, as opposed to the abdomen which is below. Sometimes called the flank. |
| nape | The base of the back of the neck. |
| neck | The extension between the shoulders and the head. |
| pastern | The portion of the foot between the hoof and the fetlock. |
| point | Any portion of the body where underlying bone extends the skin away from a smooth musculature, particularly at the bone's end or corner. Points can usually be found on the hips and shoulders (called "point of hip" and "point of shoulder" respectively). |
| shoulder | The area where the arm connects to the trunk, particularly the joint. (This falls under the same argument as the arm and the elbow.) |
| stifle | The first joint of the hind leg below the hip, mostly enclosed in the fleshy portion of the upper leg. |
| tail | The long-haired protrusion from the posterior. |
| thigh | The portion of the hind leg between the hip and the stifle. |
| thorax | The portion of the trunk from the neck to the diaphragm, encompassing the trunk's rib cage. |
| torso | The body of a creature, not including the head and limbs. For a centaur this includes both the barrel and the trunk. (This term is the most generic of three that, among humans and horses, refer to the same thing. It therefore seems best for this use.) |
| trunk | The upright portion of a centaur's torso. (The use of this term was selected for its association with upright forms.) |
| waist | The fleshy portion of the trunk below the rib cage. (This term is used on the trunk as it has the greatest association there.) |
| withers | The highest part of the barrel, just behind the trunk. |
These colors are based on coat colors and terms for horses. It has not been expanded beyond that. Yet.
| bay | A mixture of red and yellow hairs producing a range from a light yellowish tan to a dark, rich shade that is almost brown. Also, the tail and any leg markings are inevitably black. One of the five basic body colors. |
| black | A true black coat is completely black without any lighter areas, except for white leg markings when any occur. Also, the skin under the coat is always black, never pink. One of the five basic body colors. |
| brown | A brown coat is an incomplete black and can be distinguished by brown or tan hairs, typically inside the legs. Leg markings are inevitably white. One of the five basic body colors. |
| chestnut | Also sorrel, particularly when lighter. A chestnut coat is basically red in color and ranges from a light golden yellow to a dark "liver" color. The tail is usually the same color as the coat but may be lighter. Leg markings are inevitably white. One of the five basic body colors. |
| dun | Also buckskin, particularly when a spine stripe occurs. A coat of yellowish color ranging from a pale yellow to a shade resembling dirty canvas. The tail and leg markings are inevitably black. May have a stripe along the spine of the coat. A variation of the five basic body colors. |
| gray | A mixture of black and white hairs, possibly nearly black. A gray coat will tend to lighten with age. There are several marking variations such as dappled, iron, and flea-bitten. A variation of the five basic body colors. |
| palomino | A golden colored coat with a white, silver, or ivory tail. Leg markings are inevitably white. A variation of the five basic body colors. |
| pinto | Also calico or paint. A coat of irregular white and colored areas, typically either in skewbald or piebald patterns. A variation of the five basic body colors. |
| roan | A coat with white hairs mixed among one or more of the other basic body colors. A variation of the five basic body colors. |
| white | A coat of pure white, technically albino, but without pink eyes. The skin beneath the coat is pink. One of the five basic body colors. |
| ======== | Words relating exclusively to coat colors and patterns: |
| Appaloosa | A coat marking unique to its namesake breed of horse. Typically a grey or white patch on the posterior with many small black or darker grey spots. |
| boot | A leg coloration, usually white (black for bays and duns), beginning at the hoof and ending at the fetlock. |
| flaxen | A very pale sometimes yellowish color similar to raw flax fibers. Often used to describe a light-colored tail. |
| piebald | Areas of white and black. One of the two pinto patterns. |
| skewbald | Areas of white and any basic coat color except black. One of the two pinto patterns. |
| sock | A leg coloration, usually white (black for bays and duns), beginning at the hoof and ending below the fetlock. |
| stocking | A leg coloration, usually white (black for bays and duns), beginning at the hoof and extending above the fetlock. |
Additions? Comments? Corrections? Suggestions? E-mail the author at EarlWerks.
Can you help me find a good and proper word for the bony structure found where the trunk and barrel meet? This spot corresponds to a human's hips and a horse's shoulders. The protrusion is called a "point" (as in "point of ???"). See also the author's Word Search.
Can you help me figure out how to deal with references to a centaur's back (or backs)? How about the two rib cages?
Can you help me find one or more good GIFs I can include to illustrate any of the anatomy terms?