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 1 st & 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.