Morphometry of the main structures that compose the metacarpophalangeal joint in horses

Abstract

The metacarpophalangeal joint is a ginglim formed by the conjunction of the distal extremity of the III Metacarpal bone, the proximal extremity of the Proximal phalanx and the proximal sesamoid bones. Amongst the horses’ joints this is the most susceptible to lesions. The morfometric characteristics were studied through a transversal incision of the main structures of the metacapophalangeal joints of 16 right side thoracic members and 14 left side thoracic members of adult horses of no defined breeding, seeking to generate a form of predictable quality. Measurements were taken so as to obtain the width and thickness of the superficial and deep tendons of the digital flexor muscle, interdigital intersesamoid ligament, tendon of the common digital extensor muscle and palmar, back and side of the articular capsule. No differences were found between the superficial digital flexor muscle tendons, common and lateral digital extensor muscle tendons, interdigital intersesamoid ligament, neither in width or thickness, deep digital flexor muscle tendon, only in thickness and back portion of the articular capsule (P>0.05) independing of the antimere, however significant differences were found amongst the widths of the deep digital flexor muscle tendons (P>0.01), as well as in the palmar portion of the articular capsules (P>0.05). The articular capsule was the structure that shows the highest variation, maybe because there was not a pattern at the moment of collecting (age, function, clinical historical). In the correlation it was not possible to find significant values, once the correlation was low to the majority of structures. Keywords: Morphometry, metacarpophalangeal joint, horses, predictable quality.