THE FOOT OF THE HORSE. 



51 



A, Flexor perforatus (attached to lower pas- 

 tern bone). 



B, Flexor perforans (inserted under coffin- 

 bone). 



C, Metacarpal or check ligament of the per- 

 forans tendon. 



D, Suspensory ligament of the fetlock. 



E, Front extefasor tendon (inserted into front 

 of cothn-bone). 



P, Splint bone on outer side of the cannon. 



G, Branching of the suspensory. 



H, Branch of same passing forward to join 

 the extensor tendon. 



I, J, K, Periosteum membrane covering the 

 surfaces of the cannon and pastern bones. 



L, Fibrous reticulum covering the face of the 

 coffin-bone and forming the reticular tissue leaves, 

 or sensitive larainte, which dovetail into the horny 

 leaves of the wall, completing the union of these 

 regions. 



M, The pastern-supporting or check liga- 

 ment. This has never before been shown in 

 anatomical drawings. It binds the upper head 

 (if the lower pastern to the lower head of 

 the upper pastern, and is located midway be- 

 tween the flexor tendon and upper pas- 

 tern bone. Its office is plainly duplex — it 

 holds the ankle and pastern joint firmly 

 in position, and divides the strain with the 

 flexor tendon in its severe down- 

 ward action. 



Fig. 4. extern.\l side view of left fkont 

 limb, showing the articulations, tendons, 

 and ligaments op the knee, fetlock, and 



FOOT. 



