356 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE HORSE , S FOOT. 
From this disposition it might be inferred that we have two 
distinct planes of fibres crossing the direction of each other, 
and consequently forming a stronger cord than if they had 
Fig. 9. — The two articulations of the foot viewed from above, after removal 
of the coronary bone. a. Anterior face of the flexor tendon of the 
foot. b. Its accessory sheath, c. Its surface for contact with the 
navicular bone. d. Its diverging fibres for insertion into the pedal 
bone. e. Complementary ligament, ff. Upper borders of the lateral 
cartilages, g. Upper or anterior face of the navicular bone. h. Arti- 
cular face of the pedal bone. i. Pyramidal process, j. Surface for inser- 
tion of the extensor tendon of the foot. k. Anterior surface of the 
pedal bone covered by the vascular laminae. 1. Point of insertion of the 
yellow elastic ligament, m. Anterior border of the lateral cartilage. 
all been arranged in parallel bundles. A careful examination 
will demonstrate, however, that in reality the fibres of each 
half of the tendon are continuous behind and before; the 
posterior fibres passing downwards and outwards from the 
groove behind, turn round the border of the tendon and 
converge towards the middle of its anterior face, giving 
it a different appearance. This arrangement is not observed 
in the fibres of the superficial flexor tendon. 
Behind the navicular bone the fibres on the anterior face 
(fig. 9, c, d) become altered in their course; the longitudinal 
division is more marked than above, consequently here the 
expansion is thinnest ; the division or groove is adapted to the 
transverse ridge on the navicular bone ; the two surfaces — ten- 
don and bone — being accurately fitted to each other, greatly 
contribute to prevent the tendon from moving to one side, or 
the other during progression. The fibres on this face also 
appear to become looser in texture; the bundles, though still 
offering the nacrous glistening lustre of tendon, are wider 
apart, and altogether are so much attenuated and expanded as 
