SUPERFICIAL EXAMINATION 5 



muscles. These tendons should be felt as far as possible throughout 

 their length, beginning at the knee, immediately below which they 

 will be found at the spot where they leave the carpal arch. Just 

 above the fetlock the tendon of the deep flexor will be found to 

 disappear, for it here enters the fibrous ring formed for its passage by 

 the perforatus tendon. The perforans, however, will be felt to make 

 its reappearance just below the joint, where it emerges from the 

 fibrous tube mentioned. 



Careful manipulation of the outer side or the fetlock will reveal 

 the presence of a hard, flat band which runs downwards and forwards 

 to the anterior aspect of the limb, where it joins the tendon of the 

 extensor pedis muscle. This band is the external division of the 

 suspensory ligament, which has divided just above the fetlock after 

 traversing the channel formed by the large and two small metacarpal 

 bones. This slip of the suspensory ligament will be found to broaden 

 out and to become much less apparent to the touch as we descend to 

 its insertion. It is sometimes ruptured, particularly in young animals. 

 Near where the suspensory ligament divides the small metacarpal bone 

 will be found to terminate in a small rounded nodule. This is known 

 as the " button " or the splint bone, and must not be mistaken for 

 a splint. 



The upper part of the inner aspect of the limb is best examined 

 on a dead specimen. The limb should be disarticulated at the shoulder 

 joint, and the inner cutaneous incision should be made as high up 

 as possible in the armpit. The first point we notice is the curve 

 indicating the inferior border of the posterior superficial pectoral 

 muscle. This in most animals may be distinctly seen, but in all it may 

 be easily felt. Extending vertically, and almost in the middle line of 

 this aspect, will be felt an osseous ridge. This is the inner edge of the 

 radius. Behind this ridge is a vertical groove, and posterior to the groove 

 again we have a vertically elongated elevation which corresponds to the 

 position of the belly of the flexor metacarpi internus muscle. 



