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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Accessory Ligament of the Deep Digital Flexor Tendon of the ...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2024; 14(20); 2952; doi: 10.3390/ani14202952

Accessory Ligament of the Deep Digital Flexor Tendon of the Horse Forelimb and Its Relationship with the Superficial Digital Flexor Tendon: A Plastination, Histological, and Morphometry Study.

Abstract: The accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon (AL-DDFT) plays a crucial role in the stay apparatus of the horse. This study aimed to investigate the anatomical relationship between the AL-DDFT, the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT), and other structures in the metacarpal region. Sixteen distal forelimbs from eight horses, aged 1 to 6 years, were evaluated through macroscopic, microscopic, and morphometric analyses, utilizing detailed dissection, E12 plastinated sections, and histological analysis. During lateral dissection, a connection was observed between the AL-DDFT and the SDFT. Histological evaluation revealed that this connection was a fibrous band (FB), extending the common synovial sheath (CSS) to the SDFT, along with associated collagen fibrils of the epiligament and peritenon. Additionally, two distinct forms of the AL-DDFT were identified, Type I and Type II, with Type II showing a greater cross-sectional area (CSA) than Type I. While numerous morphological and morphometric studies have explored the AL-DDFT and related structures, research incorporating plastination-based morphological and histological evaluations remains scarce. The findings provide valuable insights for both the morphological and clinical assessment of structures within the metacarpal region.
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Publication Date: 2024-10-14 PubMed ID: 39457884PubMed Central: PMC11503822DOI: 10.3390/ani14202952Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research investigates the anatomical relationship between the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon and the superficial digital flexor tendon in a horse’s forelimb, using histological, plastination, and morphometric studies.

About the Research

  • The study focuses on the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon (AL-DDFT) in a horse’s forelimb. The AL-DDFT is significant in the horse’s ‘stay apparatus’, an anatomical system that allows a horse to stand or sleep while using very little energy.
  • Further, the study also explores the association between the AL-DDFT and the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT), another crucial component in the forelimbs of horses.

Methodology

  • In this research, scientists studied sixteen distal forelimbs from eight horses, aged between 1 to 6 years.
  • The evaluation was done using macroscopic (visible to the naked eye), microscopic (requiring a microscope to see), and morphometric (measuring of external form) analyses. Methods included detailed dissection, the use of E12 plastinated sections (a technique for preserving tissues for later examination), and histological (study of the microscopic structure of tissues) analysis.

Findings

  • During the dissection, researchers observed a connection between the AL-DDFT and the SDFT. This connection turned out to be a fibrous band (FB), which extended the common synovial sheath (CSS) — a protective membrane that reduces friction — to the SDFT.
  • Additionally, the histological evaluation unveiled associated collagen fibrils — the tiny fibers forming the building blocks of collagen — of the ‘epiligament’ and the ‘peritenon’, structures that are key to tendon health and functioning.
  • The researchers also identified two distinct forms of the AL-DDFT, referred to as Type I and Type II. Type II had a greater cross-sectional area (CSA) compared to Type I.

Conclusion

  • This study sheds light on the intricate relationship between key structures in a horse’s forelimb. Despite previous research on the AL-DDFT and associated structures, investigations that use a plastination-based morphological and histological approach are limited.
  • The findings of this research offer valuable insight that can improve both the morphological (study of the form and structure of organisms) and clinical assessments of the metacarpal region (part of the forelimb) in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Eren G, López-Albors O, Guilabert Segura R, Jordan Montesinos J, Latorre R. (2024). Accessory Ligament of the Deep Digital Flexor Tendon of the Horse Forelimb and Its Relationship with the Superficial Digital Flexor Tendon: A Plastination, Histological, and Morphometry Study. Animals (Basel), 14(20), 2952. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14202952

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 20
PII: 2952

Researcher Affiliations

Eren, Gulsum
  • Department of Anatomy and Comparative Pathological Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
  • Department of Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, University of Uludag, Bursa 16059, Türkiye.
López-Albors, Octavio
  • Department of Anatomy and Comparative Pathological Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
Guilabert Segura, Ruth
  • Department of Anatomy and Comparative Pathological Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
Jordan Montesinos, Joana
  • Department of Anatomy and Comparative Pathological Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
Latorre, Rafael
  • Department of Anatomy and Comparative Pathological Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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