480 



BROKEN KNEES. 



Fig. 27. 



knee, together with the description appended to it, will enable 

 the reader to more fully comprehend the nature, relative im- 

 portance, and position of the tissues which are generally 

 injured. 



The annexed engraving is, to some extent, a diagram of the 

 superficial structures which enter into the formation of the 

 fore-leg of the horse. The reader is to suppose the limb to be 

 stripped of its skin. 



a h c, The extensor metacarpi 

 muscle, a muscle which arises at the 

 bottom part of the shoulder, and 

 passes down the front of the leg, as 

 shown in the engraving. It termi- 

 nates in a strong, flat tendon, which 

 is inserted into the top part of the 

 cannon-bore f, immediately under- 

 neath and in front of the knee : 

 this muscle is represented divided 

 between the letters a and h. Situ- 

 ated directly behind the extensor 

 metacarpi muscle is the synovial 

 membrane h, which is also repre- 

 sented divided, for the purpose of 

 showing the cavity of the knee- 

 joint, j j Is a thick fibrous struc- 

 ture, situate immediately behind the 

 skin. This membrane, from its 

 position, will naturally afibrd a 

 strong covering and protection to the extensor muscles ; it is 

 represented as rolled a little to one side, g, the extensor 

 metacarpi oblique muscle (extensor oblique muscle), a muscle 

 which crosses the extensor metacarpi, and is inserted into the 



