MYOLOGY 195 



number of which is in proportion to the digital division of 

 the hand. These sHps then pass through the sHt or button- 

 hole in the tendon of the superficial flexor, and proceed 

 to terminate on the third phalanx ; hence the name of 

 perforating, which is also given to the deep flexor of the 

 digits. 



In the dog and the cat the tendon is divided into five 

 portions, each of which proceeds to one of the digits. The 

 internal tendon, which is destined for the thumb, termi- 

 nates on the second phalanx of this digit. 



In the pig the tendon divides into four tendons destined 

 for the four digits. 



In the ox there are but two tendons. 



In the horse the tendon is single. 



As their names indicate, these muscles, both superficial 

 and deep, flex the digits. In addition to this, they flex 

 the hand on the forearm. 



We mentioned above that certain details relative to 

 the superficial flexor must be analyzed in a special way. 

 We now add that this should also be done with regard to 

 the deep flexor. The point in question is the arrangement 

 which the tendons of these muscles present at the level of 

 the palmar region of the hand. 



It is easy, in the case of the dog or the cat, to picture to 

 one's self this arrangement, especially if we recollect that 

 which exists in the human species. The tendons of the 

 flexors are placed on a kind of muscular bed formed by the 

 union of the muscles of the region, but, moreover, from the 

 point of view of external form, these tendons are not of very 

 great importance. 



But in the ox and the horse it is quite otherwise. From 

 the simplification of the skeleton of the hand, and the 

 reduction of the number of movements which the bones 

 that form it are able to execute, there naturally results a 

 diminution of its muscular apparatus. Apart from the 

 existence of muscular vestiges of but little importance, we 

 can say that, in reality, the hand does not possess any 

 muscles. On its palmar aspect are found only the tendons 

 of the flexors of the digits, and as these tendons are 



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