22 THE ARMY HORSE. 



The following joints make up the articulation of the hind 

 leg : 11 ip joint, formed by the socket of the pelvis and the head 

 of the femur; stifle joint, by the lower end of the femur, head 

 of the tibia, and the patella ; hock joint, by the lower end of 

 the tibia, six small bones (tarsals), and the upper ends of the 

 metatarsals. The fetlock, pastern, and coffin joints correspond 

 to those of the fore limb. 



LIGAMENTS. 



Ligaments are, generally speaking, strong bands of white 

 fibrous inelastic tissue. Their principal use is to firmly bind 

 joints together, thereby preventing vibration and diminishing 

 friction. 



The suspensory ligament should be carefully studied on ac- 

 count of the numerous accidents to which it is liable. It is a 

 long, strong band of fibrous tissue originating in the back part 

 of the lower bones of the knee and in the upper part of the 

 cannon bone; it occupies the space between the splint bones 

 and passes down immediately behind the cannon bone, lying 

 between it and the tendon (sinew) of the fiexor pedis perfor- 

 ans; it bifurcates (divides into two) opposite the lower third of 

 the cannon bone and becomes attached to the sesamoids, whence 

 the parts pass forward and downward, joining the tendon 

 of the extensor pedis just above the pastern joint. It is thin 

 afld comparatively weak near the knee, but as it approaches the 

 fetlock joint it almost equals the back tendons in substance, 

 and its size and wiriness to the touch may be taken as some 

 test of the powder of any particular leg to resist a breakdown. 



The suspensory ligament of the hind leg corresponds in every 

 particular to that of the fore leg. 



The calcaneo-cuboid ligament stretches from the posterior 

 (back) border of the calcaneum to the posterior part of the 

 cuboid, ending on the head of the external (outer) splint bone. 

 A sprain of this ligament is known as a '-'"curb."' 



Capsular ligaments, as we have seen, are pouch-shaped, are 

 found around joints, and are intended to protect the lubricating 

 apparatus inside. 



Some ligaments are made up almost entirely of yellow tissue, 

 which is elastic. The ligamentum nuchas, neck ligament, is an 

 important example. It occupies the space in front of the 

 dorsal spines, above the cervical vertebrae, and is attached to 



