The main artery to the distalforelimb, located on the medial aspect of the metacarpus.

The tendon connecting the deep digital flexor muscle to the palmar/plantar surface of the distal phalanx. It lies underneath the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) along the back of the cannon and passes through the SDFT where this inserts on the middle phalanx.

The distal section of the horse's limb, comprising the three phalanges: the proximal phalanx (long pastern bone), the medial phalanx (short pastern bone) and the distal phalanx (coffin bone), as well as the distal sesamoid bone (navicular bone).

Chief blood supply to the digit (hoof and pastern). Carries oxygenated blood. Is split into a lateral (Arteria digitalis lateralis) and a medial branch (A. digitalis medialis).

A wedge shaped pad of fibrous connective tissue that lies beween the corium of the frog and the end of the deep digital flexor tendon. Laterally and medially it is bordered by the ungular (co-lateral) cartilages and to the back (palmar/plantar aspect) it lies directly underneath the corium and epidermis of the bulbs. It contains a high proportion of collagenous and elastic fibres, along with fat cells, islets of cartilage and relatively few blood vessels.

The fibrous, elastic subcutaneous tissue that makes up the digital cushion and extends caudally to give the bulbs of the heel their characteristic rounded shape.

The fibrous, elastic subcutaneous tissue that represents the portion of the digital cushion underneath the frog where it mimics the frog's shape.

A provocation test used during a lameness examination. The horse's distallimb is artificially hyperextended by placing the hoof on the end of a board and lifting the other end. This will put pressure on the palmar region of the foot by increasing the tension in the deep flexor tendon, this in turn, will accentuate pain in this region of the foot and will cause the horse to hop off the board. The test is more difficult to interpret than a flexion test and must be evaluated carefully; frequently a left-right comparison is useful.

The tendon responsible for the extension of the distallimb (fetlock, pastern and coffin joints. In the forelimb the common digital extensor tendon has four origins on the humerus, radius, ulna and the fascia of the forearm, it inserts on the dorsal aspect of the proximal and middle phalanx and finally on the extensor process of the distal phalanx. In the hindlimb, the long digital extensor originates on the femur and has the same insertions as the common digital extensor in the forelimb.

A large tendon sheath which envelopes the superficial and deep digital flexor tendons where they pass  over the palmar/plantar aspect of the fetlock joint. Its proximal margin is several cm above the fetlock joint, its distal margin slightly below the level of the proximal interphalangeal joint.

The nerves responsible for the innervation of the digit. Divided into a lateral (N. digitalis palmaris/plantaris lateralis) and a medial (N. digitalis palmaris/plantaris medialis) branch.

A regional nerve block used during lameness examination. The nerves blocked are the medial and lateral branches of the palmar/plantardigital nerve. The block can be applied at various positions on the pastern; the structures desensitised depend on the exact placement of the anaesthetic. Most frequently used sites of injection

1. Applied just above the collateral cartilages

2. At mid pastern, just behind the palpable vascular bundle.

The tendon attaching the superficial digital flexor muscle to the middle phalanx. It forms the palmar/plantar contour of the distallimb.

The application of a regional nerve block to the lateral and/or medial branch of the digital nerve (Nervus digitalis palmaris/plantaris medialis/lateralis) at the base of the proximal sesamoid bones where the vascular bundles can be palpated (the nerve is located directly palmar/plantar to this bundle).