48 THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OP THE OX. 



extensor pedis is divided throughout its length, thus giving rise 

 to an external muscle, the extensor communis digitorum, and an 

 internal one, the extensor proprius internus, the former of these 

 two muscles being rather larger than the latter. The tendons 

 of these muscles run down the metacarpus in company, and at 

 the commencement of the digits that of the extensor communis 

 bifurcates, a portion being inserted into the pyramidal process 

 of each distal phalanx. The tendon of the extensor proprius 

 internus receives slips from the suspensory ligament about the 

 middle of the first phalanx, and is attached to the mesial and 

 outer surface of the internal distal phalanges. The extensor 

 suffraginis is represented in ruminants by the extensor proprius 

 extern us, and it differs from the former muscle of the horse in 

 being thicker and stronger, and in being inserted in the same 

 manner as the internus. These three muscles are all extensors, 

 but the communis is also an approximator, while the proprii are 

 diverters or expansors of the digits. The flexor perforatus is a 

 double muscle, but unites to form a single tendon, which divides, 

 and each part behaves as the single portion in the horse, being, 

 however, assisted in the formation of the sheaths for the per- 

 forans tendons by two strong slips from the suspensory liga- 

 ment which correspond to the check ligament. The check 

 ligament may be said to be attached in the ruminant to the 

 perforatus tendon only. The tendon of the flexor perforans also 

 divides, the two parts passing through the sheaths formed as 

 above described, and ending in a manner similar to that of the 

 horse, becoming, however, blended with the plantar cushion of 

 the foot, and the inferior interdigital ligament. 



Hind Limb. — The gluteus externus is closely blended with 

 the triceps abductor. The gluteus maxim us is nearly covered by 

 the compound muscle and that of the fascia lata, and is smaller 

 than in the horse, while the gluteus internus is much larger. 

 The tensor fasciae latse and triceps abductor are firmly united 

 over the region of the trochanter major, the former muscle being 

 largely developed, while the latter has no femoral attachment. 

 The rectus parvus is absent. The biceps rotator tibialis has no 

 origin from the sacrum. There appears to be no proper pyri- 

 formis muscle, but there is a muscle similar to it outside the 

 pelvis. The tendon of the obturator internus passes through 

 the obturator foramen. The fibrous portion of the flexor meta- 



