THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HORSE 137 



radio-carpal articulation ; then that between the in- 

 dividual of the carpals — the inter-carpal articulation ; 

 and lastly, the one between the lower row of the carpal 

 bones and the upper ends .of the large and small meta- 

 carpal — carpo-metacarpal articulation. The whole of 

 this complicated system of joints is completed by fibrous 

 tissue, capsular ligaments, and the sheaths of tendons, 

 plus the skin and sub-cutaneous tissue. It is rather 

 important for the reader to know this because he will be 

 in a better position to understand the degree of injury to 

 the structures of the knee in the so-called broken knee, or 

 knees, which ranges from a mere superficial abrasion to 

 actual fracture of the bones of the knee. 



The knee is capable of a great degree of flexion, and 

 attains its maximum flexibility in the hackney. 



The fetlock joint is the next one, and is formed by the 

 lower end of the large canon bone by the sessamoids and 

 the upper end of the first phalanx, or long pastern bone. 

 It is a hinged joint and allows complete flexion and a 

 limited amount of lateral movement. Like the knee 

 joint the fetlock should always be capable of being freely 

 flexed during manipulation, though unfortunately both 

 these joints are often stiff through usage, and in some 

 instances variable degrees of anchylosis or stiffening 

 exist. This naturally diminishes the value and utility 

 of a horse irrespective of age and breed. 



The remainder of the joints in the fore Umb are of the 

 same hinge-like nature as that of the fetlock, modified of 

 course in accordance with the special functions they have 

 to perform. 



Passing to the hind hmb we may say that the stifle 

 joint possesses an extreme degree of mobility and is a 

 complex joint, there being in reality several joints here. 

 First of all there is one between the lower end of the 

 femur or first thigh and the upper end of the tibia, or 

 second thigh (femoro-tibial articulation), and secondly 

 between the patella and front of the lower end of the 



