356 TYPES AND MARKET CLASSES OF LIVE STOCK 



Bones. The bones of .the foot and pastern are four in 

 number, three of which the long pastern, short pastern, and 

 coffin bone placed end to end form a continuous straight col- 

 umn passing downward and forward from the fetlock joint to 

 the ground. A small accessory bone, the navicular bone, lies 

 crosswise in the foot behind the coffin joint, enlarging the joint 

 surface. The short pastern projects about 1J4 inches above 

 the hoof and extends about an equal distance into it. 



Tendons and ligaments. The extensor tendon of the toe 

 passes down the front of the pastern and attaches to the top and 

 front of the coffin bone. The outer branch of the suspensory 

 ligament attaches to the tendon a short distance above this 

 point. The flexor tendon of the foot passes down between the 



10 



/3 



12 

 Fig. 115. Diagram Showing Structure of Foot. 



1, Coffin bone; 2, small pastern bone; 3, large pastern bone; 4, navicular 

 bone; 5, lateral cartilage; 6, extensor tendon; 7, flexor tendon of foot; 8, flexor 

 tendon of pastern; 9, branches of suspensory ligament; 10, wall; 11, sole; 

 12, frog; 13, indicates location of plantar cushion between the lateral cartilages; 

 14, perioplic ring; 15, coronary cushion. 



heels, glides over the under surface of the navicular bone, and 

 attaches to the under surface of the coffin bone. The bones of 

 the foot are held together by powerful short ligaments. 



Lateral cartilages and plantar cushion. The elastic tis- 

 sues of the foot include the lateral cartilages and the plantar 

 cushion. The lateral cartilages are two plates of gristle, one on 

 either side of the foot, extending from the wings of the coffin 

 Fbne backward to the heels and upward to a distance of an inch 

 or more above the edge of the hair, where they may be felt by 

 the fingers. When sound, these plates are elastic and yield 

 readily to moderate finger pressure, but from various causes 



