ANATOMY. 21 



The suspensory ligament should be carefully studied on account 

 of the numerous accidents to which it is liable. It is a long, strong 

 hand 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 

 tlio space between the splint bones and passes down immediately 

 l)ehind the cannon bone, lying between it and the tendon (sinew) 

 of the jlexor pedis perforans: it bifurcates (divides into two) oppo- 

 site 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 and 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 

 power 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 ^'curh." 



Capsidar 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 nuchse, neck ligament, is an impor- 

 tant example. It occupies the space in front of the dorsal spines, 

 above the cervical vertebra?, and is attached to the top of the skull. 

 In this position it separates the neck muscles of the right side from 

 those of the left. The object of elasticity in this ligament is to 

 permit of great freedom in the motion of the head, although sup- 

 porting its great weight in proper position. 



MUSCLES AND TENDONS. 



(Plate IV.) 



The muscles are divided into voluntary and involuntary mus- 

 cles; the former being under the direct control of the will, as, for 

 example, the muscles of the neck, legs, tail, etc. ; and the latter acting 

 independently of the animal's will, as, for example, the heart, intes- 

 tinal muscles, etc. 



The muscles form about one-half of the entire weight of the body. 

 With regard to their form they are divided into long, wide, and 

 short. Long muscles are generally found in the limbs; wide mus- 

 cles are stretched beneath the skin or around the great cavities of 

 the trunk, and short muscles are found chiefly around the irregularly 

 shaped bones. 



