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The horse’s hoof contains, the coffin bone; the lower part of the second 
digit; the four ligaments binding the joint between these two digits ; 
a tendon in front of the joint, which extends the foot; a tendon 
at the back of the joint which supports it, and is fastened into the coffin bone 
behind, after gliding over the back surface of the navicular bone. This 
tendon flexes- the foot when called into action. In addition to these 
structures, the hoof contains the lateral cartilages of the coffin bone, the 
matrix or membrane which forms the horny covering, and, lastly, the 
so-called cushion of the foot. 
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In the above figure of a section through a horse’s foot, A is the tendon 
that bends the foot ; B is the tendon which extends the foot; C is the 
navicular bone; D is the sensitive membrane covering the coffin bone. Its 
surface is covered with elongated vascular outgrowths, which fit into 
depressions in the horny covering of the foot; E is the so-called cushion of 
the foot. 
This picture is a lateral view of the horse’s foot after removal of the 
hoof. A is the coronary cushion; B shows the vascular prolongations ; 
C is the cushion of the sole of the foot (after Chauveau). 
