Anatomy- Bones, Tendons, and Ligaments

Question 1

what is the horse equivalent of our knee?

Answer 1

carpus

Question 2

what is the horse equivalent of our heel?

Answer 2

hock

Question 3

list the 3 major joints in the lower leg, working top to bottom

Answer 3

1. fetlock
2. pastern
3. coffin

Question 4

what bones are found in the carpus?

Answer 4

metacarpals (2,3,4)

Question 5

what bones are found in the hock?

Answer 5

metatarsals

Question 6

what is metacarpal 3 also called?

Answer 6

cannon bone

Question 7

what is metacarpal 2 also called?

Answer 7

medial splint bone

Question 8

what is metacarpal 4 also called?

Answer 8

lateral splint bone

Question 9

what are the 4 hella important tendons and ligaments in the lower leg of the horse?

Answer 9

1. superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT)
2. deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT)
3. proximal suspensory ligament
4. suspensory ligament

Question 10

what do tendons attach?

Answer 10

attach muscle to bone

Question 11

describe elasticity of tendons

Answer 11

relatively inelastic

Question 12

initiated by what, what do tendons do?

Answer 12

initiated by muscle contraction (via nerves), tendons exert pull on skeleton

Question 13

what is another name for tendon?

Answer 13

strong extension of muscle

Question 14

describe tendons compared to muscle

Answer 14

rigid compared to muscle

Question 15

what do tendons and muscles work together to do? (3)

Answer 15

1. allow movement
2. accomodate stretch
3. bear weight

Question 16

what holds tendons in position?

Answer 16

annular ligaments

Question 17

what are annular ligaments? what do they do?

Answer 17

connective tissue that keeps tendons in proper track

Question 18

what are tendons surrounded by?

Answer 18

tendon sheaths

Question 19

what is the function of tendon sheaths? (2)

Answer 19

1. prevent damage to tendon
2. contains synovial fluid, which reduces friction during movement, further preventing damage

Question 20

where do ligaments originate from and attach to?

Answer 20

from bone to bone

Question 21

what do ligaments do?

Answer 21

keep bones in alignment

Question 22

compare ligament elasticity to tendons

Answer 22

ligaments are even less elastic than tendons

Question 23

describe the suspensory ligament (4)

Answer 23

1. differs from other ligaments; is a “modified muscle”
2. contains some msucle/tendinous tissue
3. has considerable elasticity compared to other ligaments
4. tries to protect fetlock while still allowing movement

Question 24

where is the suspensory ligament found?

Answer 24

runs next to the cannon bone underneath other tendons and ligaments; then splits and encircles the sesamoids

Question 25

what is the primary role of the suspensory ligament?

Answer 25

stability

Question 26

what 2 tendons are found on the front of the cannon bone? describe them

Answer 26

1. lateral digital extensor tendon
2. common digital extensor
   these are flat and closely related

Question 27

what 2 tendons are found on the back of the cannon bone?

Answer 27

1. superficial deep digital flexor tendon (SDFT)
2. deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT)

Question 28

where is the inferior check ligament? where does it originate? what does it fuse with?

Answer 28

1. between the suspensory ligament and the flexor tendons (NOT BONE TO BONE)
2. originates on the third metacarpal/carpal joint
3. fuses with DDFT

Question 29

where does the Superior check ligament originate? what does it fuse with?

Answer 29

1. originates on back surface of radius
2. fuses with SDFT

Question 30

what are the 3 pastern bones also called?

Answer 30

p1 = long pastern
p2 = short pastern
p3 = coffin bone (in hoof)

Question 31

describe the location/splitting of the SDFT and DDFT

Answer 31

1. both tendons run down back of leg in synovial sheath
2. then at the lower end of the cannon, the SDFT flattens and widens to form a ring surrounding the DDFT
3. the DDFT then runs through the SDFT ring behind the fetlock, surrounded by a synovial sheath
4. below the fetlock, the SDFT divides into 2 parts

Question 32

what does each branch of the SDFT insert into below the fetlock?

Answer 32

each branch inserts on either side of the lower long pastern bone and upper short pastern bone

Question 33

what does the DDFT attach to once it runs down the bifurcation of the SDFT? what does it then cross underneath?

Answer 33

attaches to the bottom of the coffin bone; crosses underneath navicular bone

Question 34

what is the navicular bone?

Answer 34

the distal sesamoid bone

Question 35

what does the navicular bursa lie between?

Answer 35

the DDFT and the navicular bone

Question 36

where does the suspensory ligament lie?

Answer 36

in the metacarpal groove created by cannon and splint bones

Question 37

what is the suspensory ligament?

Answer 37

a wide thick band that originates on the upper back surface of the cannon bone and on the lower row of the carpal bones

Question 38

where does the suspensory ligament divide into two branches?

Answer 38

at the lower quarter of the cannon

Question 39

what does each branch of the suspensory ligament pass to and then what happens?>

Answer 39

each branch passes to the outside face of the corresponding sesamoid bone, where a large segment of the ligament attaches, nearly encasing the bone

Question 40

what happens to the rest of the suspensory ligament that does not attach to a sesamoind bone face?

Answer 40

the rest of the ligament passes downwards and forward to the front surface of the long pastern, where it merges with the common digital extensor tendon

Question 41

compare the suspensory ligamentto other ligaments and say why

Answer 41

more elastic than other ligaments because it contains tendinous tissue

Question 42

what is the main function of the suspensory ligament (other than general stability role)

Answer 42

supporting the fetlock and guarding it against extreme hyperextension

Question 43

what do the two branches of the suspensory ligament that join the common digital extensor tendon do?

Answer 43

limit extreme flexion of the pastern joint