Page 68 - Adams and Stashak's Lameness in Horses, 7th Edition

34 Chapter 1

Palmarly, the digital flexor tendons bridging the carpus for the blood supply to the navicular bone. In contrast
in the carpal canal between their respective accessory to all arteries originating from palmar arterial branches
VetBooks.ir the extensor carpi radialis tendon, lend further stability primary arteries originate from the plantar arterial
of the middle phalanx, in the pelvic limb, half of the
ligaments, and dorsally the extensor tendons, principally
branches of the middle phalanx, and half from the col­
to the carpus.
A certain amount of muscle tone prevails in all “rest­ lateral arch (cf. Figure 1.8). More significantly, a greater
ing” muscles of the limb, even during most stages of number of vessels enter the distal border of the navicu­
sleep. Tension exerted by the long head of the triceps lar bone from the distal anastomotic network in the
brachii muscle is essential to prevent flexion of the hindfoot than the same region in the forefoot. 18
elbow joint. The elbow’s eccentrically placed collateral Venous drainage of the digit of the pelvic limb is simi­
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ligaments afford it surprising stability in the extended lar to that of the forelimb. The digital veins carry blood
position, a stability enhanced by the triceps’ tone. to the plantar common digital veins at the level of the
Flexion of the joint is further limited by the superficial fetlock.
digital flexor muscle descending from its attachment of The pattern of distribution of the plantar digital and
the medial epicondyle of the humerus. 11 plantar metatarsal nerves in the fetlock and digit of the
A tendinous continuum extending from the supragle­ pelvic limb is similar to the pattern of the counterpart
noid tubercle of the scapula to the metacarpal tuberosity nerves in the thoracic limb. Some differences exist, how­
is formed by the main tendon of the biceps brachii muscle ever. The dorsal branch of each plantar digital nerve is
and its fibrous “internal tendon” and superficial connec­ given off more distally than the corresponding branch of
tion to the fascia of extensor carpi radialis muscle via the the forelimb. Medial and lateral dorsal metatarsal nerves
lacertus fibrosis. Through the tendon of insertion of the (from the deep fibular—formerly peroneal—nerve)
extensor carpi radialis, a continuous band is therefore course distad subcutaneously parallel and dorsal to the
created from the scapula to the metacarpus. This complex medial and lateral plantar metatarsal nerves (Figures 1.34
prevents flexion of the loaded shoulder joint caused by and 1.35). The lateral plantar metatarsal nerve extends
the weight of the trunk being transferred to the appen­ distad over the fetlock to the lateral aspect of the pas­
dicular skeleton via the scapular attachments of the ser­ tern, while the medial plantar metatarsal nerve may
ratus ventralis muscle and the dorsoscapular ligament. reach as far as the coronet; both dorsal metatarsal nerves
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continue into the laminar corium. Terminal branches
of the saphenous nerve medially, the superficial fibular
nerve dorsally and laterally, and the caudal cutaneous
HINDLIMB sural nerve dorsolaterally complete the sensory innerva­
Digit and Fetlock tion to the skin of the fetlock.
The hindfoot is somewhat smaller and more elongate
than the forefoot. Compared with the forefoot, the angle Metatarsus
of the toe of the hindfoot is slightly greater (i.e. it is The equine metatarsus is about 16% longer than the
steeper). The middle phalanx is narrower and longer, corresponding metacarpus, and the third metatarsal
1
and the proximal phalanx somewhat shorter than their bone is more round in cross section than the third meta­
counterparts in the thoracic limb (Figure 1.33). carpal bone. The lateral splint bone, particularly its
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The long digital extensor muscle’s tendon attaches to proximal extremity, is much larger than the medial
the dorsal surfaces of the proximal and middle phalan­ splint bone.
ges and the extensor process of the distal phalanx, but
the tendon of the lateral digital extensor usually does
not reach the digit as it does in the thoracic limb. Digital Dorsal Aspect
flexor tendons, tendon sheaths, and bursae of the hind Three superficial nerves supply sensory innervation
digit are not remarkably different. The suspensory appa­ to the skin of the dorsal, lateral, and medial aspects of
ratus of the fetlock and the configuration of the fetlock the metatarsus. Dorsally and laterally the two terminal
(metatarsophalangeal) joint are much the same as in the branches of the superficial fibular nerve descend as far
thoracic limb except that the dorsal articular angle of as the fetlock. The terminal branch of the caudal cutane­
the fetlock is approximately 5° greater (i.e. is slightly ous sural nerve descends obliquely from the lateral
more “upright”). aspect of the hock to course over the dorsolateral part of
the third metatarsal bone, terminating in the skin of the
fetlock, and the terminal branch of the saphenous nerve
Blood Vessels and Nerves of the Hind Digit and Fetlock
supplies medial skin of the metatarsus down to the
The principal blood supply to the fetlock and digit of fetlock.
the pelvic limb is derived from the continuation of dor­ The dorsal common digital vein II (great metatarsal
sal metatarsal artery III, the distal perforating branch, vein) ascends from a venous arch proximal to the proxi­
which bifurcates into medial and lateral digital arteries mal sesamoids as the primary continuation of the venous
in the distoplantar region of the metatarsus. A small sec­ drainage on the medial side of the digit and fetlock. At
ondary supply is contributed by medial and lateral plan­ first, the great metatarsal vein lies along the medial bor­
tar arteries that join the digital arteries to form the der of the suspensory ligament, and then it angles dor­
superficial plantar arch just proximal to the widening of sad in a groove on the third metatarsal bone to the hock
the fetlock (Figure 1.34). Branches of the digital arteries where it becomes the cranial branch of the medial saphe­
form a pattern similar to that in the thoracic limb except nous vein (Figure 1.35).