Tarsus Anatomy

Dane Tatarniuk, DVM

 Bones
• Talus b.
• Calcaneus b.
• Central tarsal b.
• 1st & 2nd (fused) tarsal b.
• 3rd tarsal b.
• 4th tarsal b.

• Proximally: Tibia
• Distally: 2nd, 3rd, 4th metatarsal b.
Dorsal-Plantar Lateral-medial
DLPMO DMPLO
PMDLO PLDMO
Plantar-Dorsal
 Joints
• Tarsocrural
• Talocalcaneal
• Proximal Intertarsal
• Talocalcaneal-Centroquatral
• Distal Intertarsal
– Centrodistal
• Tarsometatarsal
 Tarsocrural
• Ginglymus Joint
– Hinge-like joint, direction in only one plane
– Deep grooves in cochlear surface of distal tibia,
and trochlea of the talus
• Articulation
– 12 to 15 degrees to the sagittal plane, in dorsal-
lateral direction
 PIT / DIT / TMT
• Plane joints
• Only a very limited gliding movement
 Joint Capsule
• Proximal: attaches to distal aspect of the tibia
• Distal: attaches to metatarsal bones
• Joint Pouch Effusion:
– Dorsal-medial aspect of joint capsule, at level of
medial trochlea
– Proximal aspect of plantar joint capsule, at level of
talus and distal tibia, both medial/lateral side
 Ligaments
• Lateral Long Collateral Ligament
– Superficial
– Originate: Caudal aspect of lateral malleolus of
distal tibia
– Inserts: Fourth tarsal b., third metatarsal b., fourth
metatarsal b.
– Forms canal for lateral digital extensor tendon
 Ligaments
• Lateral Short Collateral Ligament
– Deep to long collateral
– Originates: Cranial aspect of lateral malleolus of
the distal tibia
– Runs caudally
– Insertion: Lateral aspect of calcaneus
 Ligaments
• Medial Long Collateral Ligament
– Originates: Caudal aspect of medial malleolus of
distal tibia
– Insertion: Second metatarsal b., third metatarsal
b., medial aspect third tarsal b.
 Ligaments
• Medial Short Collateral Ligament
– Deep to medial long collateral
– Originates: Cranial aspect of the medial malleolus
of distal tibia
– Insertion: Medial aspect of the calcaneus and
sustentaculum tali
 Ligaments
• Long Plantar Ligament
– Strong, flat band
– Originates: Proximal plantar aspect of calcaneus
– Insertion: Fourth metatarsal b., fourth tarsal b.
 Ligaments
• Dorsal tarsal ligament
– Originates: Distal tuberosity of the talus
– Insertion: Central tarsal b., third tarsal b., proximal
third metatarsal b.
 Muscle/Tendons
• Cranial-lateral
– Tibialis cranialis
• Flexor of hock
• Originates from lateral condyle of tibia
• Tendon passes through split in peroneus tertius
• Tibialis cranialis tendon then splits itself
• Insertion:
– Dorsal branch, proximal third metatarsus
– Medial branch, crosses the medial long collateral ligament and
inserts on the fused 1st & 2nd tarsal bone
• Innervated by peroneal nerve
 Muscle/Tendons
• Cranial-lateral
– Peroneus tertius
• Originates from distal femur
• Courses alongside the long extensor muscle
• Bifurcates at the dorsal tarsus
• Lateral branch inserts on calcaneous b. and fourth
tarsal b.
• Dorsal branch inserts on the proximal third metatarsal
• Links the flexion of hock and stifle
• Innervated by peroneal nerve
 Muscle/Tendons
• Cranial-lateral
– Long digital extensor
• Originates from distal femur
• Inserts on the extensor process of third phalanx
• Lateral extensor tendon joins into long at level of
proximal metatarsus
• Tendon sheath present as it crosses the dorsal tarsus
• Held in place by 3 retinacula
• Synovial sheath present
• Flexes the hock, extends the digit
• Innervated by peroneal nerve
 Muscle/Tendons
• Cranial-lateral
– Lateral digital extensor
• Originates lateral collateral ligament of stifle
• Inserts (joins) into the long extensor tendon
• Held in place by retinaculum
• Synovial sheath present
• Innervated by peroneal nerve

– Extensor digitalis brevis

• Small, short digital extensor tendon between the angle of
the long and lateral digital extensor tendons
 Muscle/Tendons
• Caudal
– Gastrocnemius
• Originates from 2 heads on the supracondylar
tuberosities of the femur, superficial to SDFT
• Inserts on the points of the calcaneus, deep to
superficial digital flexor tendon
• Extends the hock
• Innervated by tibial nerve
 Muscle/Tendons
• Caudal
– Superficial digital flexor
• Originates from the supracondylar fossa of femur, deep
to gastrocnemius
• Twists medially to become superficial to gastrocnemius
• Medial and lateral aspects insert on the point of the
calcaneus
• Remainder of SDFT continues down plantar aspect of
distal limb, inserts on first and second phalanx
• Innervated by tibial nerve
 Muscle/Tendons
• Caudal
– Deep digital flexor tendon
• Originates from three heads
– Lateral digital flexor & Tibialis caudalis
» Originates from caudal tibia
» Become joined, pass through the sustentaculum tali
» Tarsal sheath
– Medial digital flexor
» Originates from lateral condyle of tibia
» Passes within groove on medial malleolus and medial
collateral ligament
• Innervated by tibial nerve
 Tendon Sheaths
• All the tendons
coursing over
the hock, with
exception of
superficial
digital flexor
tendon, have a
concurrent
tendon sheath
 Bursas
• Cunean Bursa
– Directly deep to the
cunean tendon
• Calcaneal Bursa (2)
– Subcutaneous
– Subtendinous
Nerves & Vessels
Nerves & Vessels
 References
• Dr. Alexander zur Linden, http://vetmed.iastate.edu/limbanatomy/horse.html
• Horowitz A., Berg R., “Anatomy of the Horse”, 5th ed.
• Moyer, “Equine Joint Injection and Regional Anesthesia”, 3rd ed.