THE SESAMOIDEAN LIGAMENTS 



187 



The intersesamoidean ligament (Liganientum intersesamoideum) not only fills 

 the space between and unites the sesamoid hones, but also extends above them, 

 entering into the formation of the articular surface of the fetlock joint. Other 

 facts in regard to it ha\'e l)een given al)0\'e. 



The lateral sesamoidean ligaments, outer and inner (Ligamenta sesamoidea 

 ulnare et radiale), arise on the abaxial surface of each sesamoid bone, pass forward, 

 and divide into two branches, one of which ends in the depression on the distal end 

 of the large metacarpal bone, the other on the eminence on the proximal end of the 



l>ifurcatLon of common (Ugitol (irlrri/ 

 Inhrnal digital artery 



Oblique or middle inferior sesamoid 

 ligament 

 Straight or superficial inferior 

 sesamoid ligament 



Distal annular ligament of digit {cut 

 and reflected) 



Large metacarpal linne 



External small metacarpal bone 



Bifurcation of siispe7isory 



ligament 



Capsule of fetlock joint (upper 



pouch) 

 Sesatnoid groove 



Posterior annular ligament of 

 fetlock (cut and reflected) 



Latercd sesamoid ligament 



Stump of digital annular 



ligament 

 Extensor branch of suspensory 



ligantent 

 \'olar ligaments of pastern joint 



Insertion of superficial flexor 



tendon 

 Fibrous plate 



Deep flexor tendon 



Lateral ligament of pastern joint 

 Distal end of digital sheath 

 Suspeiisory ligament of 



navicular bone 

 Dorsal branch of digital artery 

 Volar branch of digital artery 



Fig. 151. — Deep Dissection of Dist.\i. Part u. 1:...,,. J .,i,,, J.i.mji of Horse, Showing Joints and Lk^amknts, 



Posterior View. 

 1, Lateral cartilage; 2, tendon surface of navicular bone; 3, inferior navicular or interosseous ligament; 

 4, insertion of deej) flexor tendon. Small ^irrows jioint to ojienings made in cajjsules of pastern and coffin joints. 

 (After Schmaltz, Atlas d. Anat. d. Pferdes.) 



first phalanx. They are partly covered by the branches of the suspensory or 

 superior sesamoidean ligament. 



The suspensory or superior sesamoidean ligament (Musculus interosseus 

 medius) lies for the greater part in the metacarpal groove, where it has the form of 

 a wide, thick l)and. It is attached above to the upper part of the posterior surface 

 of the large metacarpal bone and to the distal row of carpal bones. At the lower 

 fourth of the metacarpus it divides into two diverging branches. Each branch 

 passes to the abaxial face of the corresponding sesamoid, on which a considerable 



