OS METATARSI ilAGNUAI. 



97 



facet, which articulates with the cuneiforme parvum, the remain- 

 ing portion being excavated and roughened. The middle 

 cuneiform articulates with the large and small cuneiform, the 

 cuboid, and the large metatarsal bones. 



OS CUNEIFORME PARVUM. 



The small cuneiform is a very irregular bone, 

 and the smallest in the hock, at the postero- 

 internal part of which it is situated. It is 

 sometimes divided into two parts, and presents 

 four surfaces and two extremities. Its siiperiOT 

 surface is smooth and concave, to articulate with 

 the magnum ; and its inferior surface has usually 

 two small facets, one articulating with the inner 

 small metatarsal, the other with both the inner 

 and large metatarsal bones. The anterior 

 extremity presents a very small facet for the 

 cuneiforme medium, the remainder of the bone 

 being very irregular, and roughened for ligaments. 

 The small cuneiform articulates with the large 

 and middle cuneiforms, and the lai'ge and inner 

 small metatarsal bones. 



Metatarsus. 

 OS metatarsi magnum. 



(Fig. 24.) 



Fig. 24. 



view of 

 left metatarsus of a 

 Horse. 1, Large me- 

 tatarsal bone ; 2, In- 

 ternal, and 3, exter- 

 nal, small metatarsal 

 bones ; 4, Partial 

 origin of suspensory 

 and check-ligaments ; 



5, Nutrient foramen ; 



6, Articular ridge 

 joining the condyles. 



This bone presents the same general appear- 

 ance as the large metacarpal bone, from which it 

 ditfers principally in being about one-sixth longer, 

 flattened laterally, and rounded and more pro- 

 minent anteriorly. It has three articular facets 

 on its superior surface, a large one in the middle for the middle 

 cuneiform, one on the inner side for the small cuneiform, and 

 one on the outer side for the cuboid bones ; this surface also 

 presents a deep, rough fossa of insertion in its centre. The deep 

 groove which passes obliquely backwards and downwards, on the 

 external side of this bone, is for the passage of the great meta- 

 tarsal artery. The inferior extremity is larger and thicker than 

 the superior. 



