RUMINANTIA AXIAL SKELETON. 151 



carpal ligament. It is pierced by the perforating pedal artery 

 and vein, and inferiorly may be continuous with the check 

 ligament. The great interosseous ligar)ient unites the calcaneum 

 and astragalus to the cuboid and cuneiforme magnum, occupying 

 the internal space formed by these bones. 



Annular Ligaments. — The posterior of these closes in the 

 tarsal groove, completing the sheath for the deep flexor tendon ; 

 hence it passes from the tuberosity and posterior border of the 

 calcaneum to the internal ridge of the same bone, and is reflected 

 as far down as the inner metatarsal bone. It is strengthened 

 by a strong band which arises almost with the calcaneo- cuboid 

 ligament. The anterior annular ligament presents three well- 

 marked portions ; they are strong and more or less flattened 

 bands, an inferior one passing across from the proximal end of the 

 outer to that of the inner metatarsal bone, a middle one attached 

 to the cuboid bone and flexor metatarsi tendon, and a superior 

 crossing the distal end of the tibia obliquely outwards and down- 

 wards. The three portions of this ligament bind down the 

 terdons playing over the tarsus anteriorly. 



There are at least three synovial membranes, one between the 

 astragalus and tibia, another between the rows of bones, and one 

 also between the lower row and the metatarsus, which sends a 

 branch upwards between the calcaneum and astragalus. 



The motion in the tarsal joint is in effect limited to flexion 

 and extension, and the joint may therefore be regarded as a 

 ginglymus. 



The tarsal check ligament will be described with the muscles. 

 The metatarsal, metatarso-phalangeal, and interphalangeal joints. 

 are like those of the anterior limb. 



COMPAEATIVE ARTHROLOGT. 



RUMINANTIA. 



AIIAL SKELETON. 



In the ox, the dorso-liunhar supraspinous ligameut is composed of yellow 

 elastic tissue, and anteriorly is expanded, and attached to the sides rather than 

 to the summits of the neural spines. The inferior common ligament is very 

 strong, and the intervertebral discs thicker than those of the horse ; the ligamen- 

 turn nuchcE is also stronger, as the weight it has to bear is greater. The sternal 

 ribs articulate with their cartilages by means of true diarthroses, and are 

 supplied with synovial membranes. The sternum is furnished with an inferior 

 common ligament, and the presternum or manubrium articulates with the meso- 



