206 



COMPARATIVE ARTHROLOGY 



the accessory carpal with the distal end of the ulna, and 'strong bands connect 



the distal bones with the 

 metacarpus. 



The interosseous and in- 

 terordinal ligaments vary with 

 the number of carpal bones 

 present in the different species. 



INTERMETACARPAL JOINTS 



In the ox the small (fifth) 

 metacarpal bone articulates 

 with the large metacarpal, l)ut 

 not with the carpus. The joint 

 cavity is connected with that 

 of the carpo-metacarpal sac. 

 The proximal end of the small 

 metacarpal bone is attached 

 by a ligament to the fourth 

 carpal, and another band ex- 

 tends from its distal part to 

 the side of the large metacar- 

 pal. There is also an inter- 

 osseous ligament, which is per- 

 manent and allows a small 

 amount of movement. 



The chief metacarpal 

 bones of the pig, and the second 

 to the fifth of the dog, articu- 

 late with each other at their 

 proximal ends, and are connect- 

 ed by interosseous ligaments, 

 which do not, however, unite 

 them closely, as in the horse. 



METACARPO-PHALANGEAL 

 JOINTS 



Ox. — There are two 

 joints, one for each digit. The 

 two capsules communicate 

 posteriorly. The two inter- 

 digital lateral ligaments (Liga- 

 menta collateralia interdigi- 

 talia) result from the bifurca- 

 tion of a band which arises in 

 the furrow between the divi- 

 sions of the distal end of the 

 large metacarpal bone; they 

 spread out and end on the 

 proximal ends of the first 



F'lc. IGS. — Distal Part of Limb of Ox, Showing Ligaments 

 AND Tendons. One Digit and Corresponding Articu- 

 lar Part of Metacarpal Bone are Removed. 

 a, Suspensory ligament; a' , branch of a to superficial flexor 

 tendon; a" , a'", lateral and central branches of a; b, deep flexor 

 tendon; h' , branch of b to digit removed; c, c, superficial flexor 

 tendon; d, d' , intersesamoid ligament (cut); e, interdigital lateral 

 ligament of fetlock joint; /, tendon of common extensor; g, proxi- 

 mal interdigital ligament; h, digital annular ligament; i, posterior 

 annular ligament of fetlock; A', lateral ligament of pastern joint; 

 /, distal interdigital ligament; m, crucial interdigital ligament 

 (cut); m' , vi" , attachments of m to second phalanx and distal 

 sesamoid lione; n, suspensory ligament of distal sesamoid; o, an- 

 terior elastic ligament; p, lateral volar ligament of pastern joint; 

 1, metacarpus, sawn off at /'; 2, first phalanx; S, second phalanx; 

 4, third phalanx. (Ellenherger-Baum, Anat. d. Haustiere.) 



phalanges. A strong superior 

 interdigital ligament (Ligamentum interdigitale), consisting of short intercrossing 

 fibers, unites the middles of the interdigital surfaces of the first phalanges. 



