186 



THE ARTICULATIONS OF THE HORSE 



The capsule is further strengthened by a layer of oblique fibers which pass over the lateral 

 lio-ament on either side and end on the extensor tendon and the proximal extremity of the first 

 phalanx. It may properly be regarded as fascia rather than ligament. 



Movements. These are of the nature of flexion and extension, the axis of 



motion passing through the upper attachments of the lateral ligaments. In the 

 ordinary standing position the joint is in a state of partial dorsal flexion, the articu- 

 lar angle (in front) being al^out 140° to 150°. (In the hind limb it is about 5° 

 greater.) Diminution of this angle (sometimes termed "overextension") is nor- 



Ext elisor tendon 



Upper end of capsule of fetlock 

 joint 



Bursa 



Lateral Hgamerit of fetlock joint 



Fascia 



Branch of suspensory ligament 



Lateral volar ligament of pastern 

 joint 



Suspensory ligament of naviculur 

 bone 

 Band from lateral cartilage to 

 extensor tendon 

 Lateral ligament of coffin joint 



Supe7-ficial flexor tendon 



Deep flexor tendon 

 Suspensory ligament 

 - Later (d inlerrosseous tendon 



Upper end of digital sheatk 



I ling of superficial flexor tendon 

 I n tersesamoidean ligamen t 

 Posterior annular ligament (cut) 



'— Lateral sesamoidean ligament 

 Superficial inferior sesamioidean 



ligament 

 Middle inferior sesamoidean 

 ^ ligament 



\ Attachments of proximal digital 

 annular ligament 



Pouch of digital sheath 



Distal digital annxdar ligament 

 Lateral cartilage 



Fig. 1.50.— Ligaments and Tendons of Dlstai. Part op Limb of Horse. 



Mc.III, Large metacariKil bone; Ph.I, firet phalan.x;; Ph.II, second phalanx; Ph.III, third phalanx; 1. deep flexor 



tendon; 2, band from first phalanx to plantar cushion. (After Schmaltz, Atlas d. Anat. d. Pferdes.) 



mally very limited on account of the resistance offered by the sesamoidean appara- 

 tus, but it varies considerably in amount in different subjects. Volar flexion is 

 limited only l)y contact of the heels with the metacarpus. During volar flexion 

 a small amount of lateral flexion is possible. 



THE SESAMOIDEAN LIGAMENTS 

 Under this head will l)e described a numlxn- of important ligaments which are 

 connected with the sesamoid bones and form a sort of stay apparatus or brace. 



