114 THE SURGICAL ANATOMY OF THE HORSE 



Another very important ligament of this set is placed at the 

 postero-external aspect of the joint. This is the calcaneo metatarsal^ 

 sometimes referred to as the calcaneo-cuboid ligatnetit. It is thick and 

 powerful and arises from the roughened posterior border of the 

 tuber calcis. It takes a course which is almost vertical and passes 

 along the posterior surface of the cuboid. Some of the fibres are 

 attached to this bone. The ligament terminates by obtaining insertion 

 into the head of the external small metatarsal bone. 



Posteriorly the calcaneo-metatarsal ligament is related to the tendon 

 of the flexor perforatus muscle, which tendon becomes closely applied 

 to the ligament after passing over the summit of the tuber calcis. The 

 ligament just described is of importance inasmuch as it is concerned 

 in the troublesome surgical affection known as curb. 



The tarso-metatarsal ligament. This is the fourth ligament of the 

 third set. It is a strong ligament, the fibres of which have a very 

 complicated arrangement. It binds together all the small bones by 

 its attachments to their posterior surfaces, and then, in turn, by its 

 attachments to the posterior aspect of the upper extremities of the 

 metatarsal bones, binds the small bones to those just mentioned. It is 

 continued inferiorly as the subtarsal or check ligament which becomes 

 attached to the tendon of the flexor perforans muscle in a manner 

 closely resembling the subcarpal or check ligament of the fore limb. 



The tarso-metatarsal ligament is crossed by the tendon of the flexor 

 perforans muscle. It is also crossed by the perforating metatarsal artery 

 and its accompanying vein, which run horizontally through the tarsus 

 by passing through the canal formed between the cuboid, scaphoid, 

 and cuneiform magnum. The posterior face of the ligament forms 

 part of the anterior boundary of the tarsal sheath, the synovial lining 

 of which covers the face of the ligament. Laterally its fibres are 

 confounded, outwardly with those of the calcaneo-metatarsal ligament, 

 and inwardly with those of the internal lateral ligament. 



The remaining ligaments of the tarsus are the Common Ligaments. 



