1. Two lateral ligaments, an external and an internal ([Fig. 11, a]).
2. Two lateral sesamoid ligaments (f).
3. An intersesamoid ligament ([Fig. 12, b]), a thick, fibrous mass, binding the sesamoid bones almost immovably together, extending above them and presenting on its posterior face a smooth groove, in which glide the flexor tendons of the phalanges (perforans and perforatus).
4. The suspensory ligament of the fetlock ([Figs. 11, c], [12, c], and [13, c], pages 29 and 30). This may also be called the superior sesamoid ligament. It is a long and very powerful brace, originating on the lower row of carpal bones (bones of the hock in the hind leg) and on the upper end of the cannon between the heads of the two splint-bones, and dividing at the lower third of the cannon into two branches (c), which are attached one to each sesamoid bone. Below these bones these two branches are prolonged obliquely downward and forward on opposite sides of the long pastern to pass into the borders of the anterior extensor tendon of the toe at about the middle of the long pastern ([Fig. 14, b′], page 32).
Fig. 12.
Fig. 13.
[Fig. 11] shows a side view, and Figs. 12 and 13 a posterior view of the phalangeal bones, with their articular ligaments. The lettering is the same in all three figures: a, lateral ligament of fetlock-joint; b, intersesamoid ligament; c, suspensory ligament of the fetlock; d, median branch of inferior sesamoid ligament; d′, lateral branches of inferior sesamoid ligament; e, deep inferior sesamoid ligament; f, lateral sesamoid ligaments; g, inferior coronary ligaments; h, superior coronary ligaments; h′, median coronary ligaments; i, lateral pedal ligament; k, lateral coronary ligament and suspensory ligament of the navicular bone; l, interosseous ligament.