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THE ANATOMY OF THE FORE FOOT OF THE OX. 
By Mr. W. C. Spooner, Southampton . 
[Concluded from p. 135.] 
The Veins — The anterior plantar vein is formed, about half 
way between the hoof and fetlock, by two branches, each of which 
proceeds from the front and medial part of the coronet. It then 
passes up in front of the fetlock, and becomes the anterior meta- 
carpal vein , which is joined by an important branch, about one- 
third above the joint ; after this it proceeds in front of the shank to 
the knee. 
The left or external plantar vein* is formed chiefly by a net- 
work of vessels superficially situated at the coronet, and which 
proceed from the laminae of the foot. As it passes up the pas- 
tern, it receives numerous branches from both deep-seated and 
superficial parts. This vein takes its course by the side of the 
fetlock, and becomes the external metacarpal vein, which receives 
a branch from the dew-claw, and a smaller one from the neigh- 
bouring parts ; and, about one-third of the distance between the 
fetlock and knee, it sends an important anastomosing branch to 
the anterior metacarpal vein : jusj above this, the vein commu- 
nicates with the right metacarpal, by a large branch coming from 
between the ligament and tendons, and then proceeds up the 
shank, closely adherent to the suspensory ligament, and deep- 
seated between it and the bone, and again becomes superficial 
at the knee. 
The right or internal plantar vein has a similar origin to its 
fellow, and receives like branches in its course ; and at the fet- 
lock becomes the internal metacarpal vein , which, a little above 
the joint, gives off the large anastomosing branch before spoken 
of. It then proceeds up the leg by the side and a little in front 
of the suspensory ligament, receiving several branches in its 
course. 
Nerves.— -The posterior metacarpal nerve is situated just 
below the knee, at the side of the leg, between the suspensory 
ligament and flexor tendons. At about one-fourth of the distance 
* The terms made use of to distinguish the different vessels, perhaps, 
require some little explanation. It must be borne in mind, that the parts 
below the knee in the near leg are the subject of this essay: the terms right 
and left will, therefore, only apply to the near leg, but the word external, 
which corresponds to the right, and internal, which signifies the left, would 
be more appropriate for either leg, but must be distinguished from the 
middle portions of the division of the foot. 
