ANATOMY OF OX's FOOT. 417 



inner margin, in consequence of the groove above it, exhibits a 

 ledge at its anterior part. The front end is pointed, the back 

 is blunt, and exhibits a transverse furrow, covered with carti- 

 lage, for articulation with the navicular bone. In oxen the 

 prolongations corresponding to the wings of the horse's pedal 

 bone are absent and there are no lateral cartilages. 



In oxen, as in horses, the joints are completed by other small 

 bones, which, in general, resemble the sesamoid and navicular 

 bones but are somewhat smaller. Each fetlock joint has two 

 sesamoids and each claw joint a navicular bone. 



Broadly speaking, the connections of the joints with one 

 another and with the bones named resemble those of the horse, 

 especially in regard to the lateral and capsular ligaments. 



The chief differences are as follows. The suspensory liga- 

 ment of the sesamoid bones or superior metacarpo-phalangeal 

 ligament exhibits more muscular fibre than in the horse. As 

 it serves both fetlock joints it is divided at the posterior surface 

 of the great metacarpal into three parts, two lateral, small in 

 size, and a strong central ligament. The two lateral ligaments 

 extend to the two outer sesamoid bones and send in addition a 

 cord (ligamentum extensorum) to the extensor tendons of theii' 

 respective claws (fig. 398, 4'). The middle and strongest limb 

 divides a short distance below into three parts, the two lateral 

 of which run to the two inner sesamoid bones. The middle 

 portion, on the other hand, passes in a forward direction through 

 the groove on the lower end of the great metacarpus, then 

 divides into two branches, which join the extensor tendons of 

 the inner and outer claws respectively (fig. 398, 4"). 



The inferior sesamoideal ligament is absent. 



The suftraginis or pastern bone and the bone of the claw are 

 connected by external and internal suffragino-pedal ligaments, 

 which are particularly strong and unite with the ligamentous 

 tissues arisinoj from the coronet bone. 



The cruciform ligament or transverse ligament of the toe con- 

 necting the two claws consists of two cords, which arise from 

 the postero-superior parts of the coronet bones turned away 

 from the cleft of the claw, run obliquely downwards, become 

 more or less intimately fused at the point where they cross, 

 and are finally insei ted into the inner {i.e., opposin^O surfaces of 

 the claw bones and into the inner extremities of che navicular 



2d 



