Arterial blood supply to the interosseus muscle and accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon in the horse hand

Abstract

This study was conducted to describe the arterial blood supply to the interosseus muscle (IM) and the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon (AL).

Twenty horses hands were injected with red latex through the median artery.

Branches to the IM were found along the margins and both surfaces of the muscle. Each distal branch of the IM was supplied along the dorsal and palmar aspects. The nutrient artery of the third metacarpal bone was always the origin of the main artery found along the dorsal surface of the IM. The diameter of the arteries to the IM ranged from less than 0,5 mm. to 1 mm. The strongest arteries to the IM were found along its dorsal aspect and on the distal end of the muscle.

A good regeneration of some areas of the IM could be ralated with a better blood supply to them as was found in this study.

The most important blood supply to the AL was found at its proximal third. The greatest number of twigs reached the AL on its dorsal surface and medial margin. The origin of the branches to the dorsal aspect of the AL was the palmar part of the deep palmar arch. The blood supply to the medial margin of the AL arose from the radial and common palmar digital II arteries. The twigs to the AL were slender i.e. less than 0,5 mm.