354 THE MUSCLES OF THE OX 



The deep digital flexor has the same heads as in the horse, the humeral head, 

 as before mentioned, being connected with the deep part of the superficial flexor. 

 The tendon, which is not reinforced by a check ligament as in the horse, divides 

 near the distal end of the metacarpus into two branches which are inserted into the 

 volar surfaces of the third phalanges. 



The synovial sheaths at the carpus present the following special features: 

 One is found in connection with the tendon of the superficial part of the superficial 

 flexor of the digits. There is a coiiunon sheath for the tendons of the common ex- 

 tensor and the medial extensor. 



Bursa may occur under the tendons of the proper extensors of the digits at the 

 fetlock; they are constant only in old animals (Schmidtchen). The branches of 

 the tendon of the common extensor are provided with synovial sheaths from their 

 origin to the middle of the second phalanx. There are two digital synovial sheaths 

 for the flexor tendons; they may communicate at their upper part, and they ex- 

 tend from the distal third of the metacarpus nearly to the distal sesamoids. Bursse 

 occur between the latter and the branches of the deep flexor tendon. 



A feeble pronator teres is present on the medial surface of the elbow along the 

 medial collateral ligament. 



The fascia on the volar face of the metacarpus and digit is very thick. It is 

 continuous above with the ligamentum carpi transversum, and is attached on either 

 side to the metacarpal bone. At the fetlock it forms the fibrous basis for the small 

 claws, and below this it detaches two strong bands which diverge to be inserted into 

 the second and third phalanges, blending with the collateral ligaments. 



The lumbricales are absent, unless we regard as such the muscular bundles 

 which arise on the deep flexor and are inserted into the superficial flexor tendon at 

 the carpus. 



The interosseus medius, or suspensory ligament, is somewhat more muscular 

 than in the horse; indeed, in the young subject it may be almost entirely fleshy. 

 Its arrangement is somewhat complex. Single at its origin, it detaches about the 

 middle of the metacarpus a band which joins the tendon of the superficial flexor 

 and concurs near the fetlock in the formation of the ring for the deep flexor tendon.'- 

 A little lower down it divides into three and then into five branches. The abaxial 

 branches (two pairs) are attached to the corresponding sesamoids and tendons of 

 the proper extensors, while the middle branch passes through the sulcus at the distal 

 end of the metacarpus and bifurcates, each division fusing with the tendon of the 

 corresponding proper extensor. 



The Muscles of the Pelvic Limb 

 l the sublumbar muscles 



The psoas minor begins at the disc between the twelfth and thirteenth thoracic 

 vertebrse. 



The psoas major has a fleshy origin on the posterior border of the last rib, and 

 a thin tendon attached to the twelfth rib ; it is relatively narrower than in the horse 

 and does not entirely cover the quadratus lumborum. 



The iliacus begins under the body of the sixth lumbar vertebra, and is more 

 closely united with the psoas major than in the horse. 



The quadratus lumborum extends as far forward as the body of the tenth or 

 eleventh thoracic vertebra. It is wider than in the horse and extends beyond the 

 lateral border of the psoas major. 



1 Lesbre regards this band as the subcarpal check ligament, which on this basis is blended 

 with the suspensory ligament above. 



