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Home / Equine Research Bank / Anat Embryol (Berl) / The developmental anatomy of the equine navicular bursa and ...
Anatomy and embryology1989; 179(4); 355-367; doi: 10.1007/BF00305062

The developmental anatomy of the equine navicular bursa and associated structures.

Abstract: The navicular bone, navicular bursa and their associated structures were collected from 20 horses ranging in age from 80 days gestation to 2 years post-gestation. The right front foot of every horse was sampled for light microscopy. The development of the navicular bursa and associated structures were studied. Study of the developmental anatomy of the equine navicular bursa established that the bursa is a distinct entity in both the fetus and the adult horse. Development of the bursal cavity in the fetus was found to be complete by 120 days of gestation. Synovial membrane of the navicular bursa was first evident at 100 days of fetal age. With increasing fetal maturation there was a concurrent development in the synovial membrane consisting of increased cellularity, vascularity and villi formation. Nerve fibers or nerve endings were not observed within the synovial membrane of the navicular bursa. However, nerve bundles were often observed within the associated connective tissue, bursal capsule and distal navicular ligament. Pacinian corpuscles were observed in the 200-day fetus in close proximity to the navicular bursa. The development of a fibrous bursal capsule was first evident at 160 days fetal age, thereafter increasing in both thickness and density. Ligaments of the navicular bone were found to develop early in fetal life. At 100 days the collateral sesamoidean ligaments were well developed; however earliest evidence of formation of the distal navicular ligament was at 120 days. In both the fetus and the adult the proximal blood supply to the navicular bone was found to course dorsally in close proximity to the collateral sesamoidean ligament to enter the proximal border of the navicular bone. Concurrent with weight bearing there was a dorsal palmar orientation of the bone trabeculae of the navicular bone. In the young postgestational horses a progressive roughening or fraying of the palmar surface of the navicular bone and the apposing surface of the deep digital flexor tendon was evident.
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Publication Date: 1989-01-01 PubMed ID: 2735530DOI: 10.1007/BF00305062Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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.

This study looks at the development of the navicular bursa (a small fluid-filled sac situated at the navicular bone in horses) and its associated structures from fetuses to adult horses. The research discovered the timing of key stages of these structures’ development and differences in their maturity and location in relation to other important parts of the horse’s leg.

Methodology

  • The study used the right front foot of 20 horses at different development stages, ranging from 80 days of gestation to 2 years post-gestation.
  • These samples were then subjected to light microscopy to study the structures and development of the navicular bursa.

Findings

  • The research determined that the navicular bursa is a distinct entity in both fetuses and adult horses.
  • The development of the bursal cavity was complete by 120 days of gestation.
  • The first evidence of the synovial membrane of the navicular bursa was found at 100 days of gestation. As the fetus matured, so did the synovial membrane, featuring increased cellularity, vascularity and villi formation.
  • No nerve fibers or endings were observed within the synovial membrane; however, nerve bundles were frequently noted within the associated connective tissue, bursal capsule and distal navicular ligament.
  • The first evidence of a fibrous bursal capsule was found at 160 days of gestation, increasing in both thickness and density as time progressed.
  • Ligaments of the navicular bone were observed to develop early in fetal life, with evidence suggesting that collateral sesamoidean ligaments were well formed at 100 days, and the distal navicular ligaments first formed at around 120 days.

Structural Orientation and Changes

  • Both in fetuses and adults, the proximal blood supply to the navicular bone was observed to run dorsally in close proximity to the collateral sesamoidean ligament before entering the proximal border of the navicular bone.
  • With increase in weight bearing, orientation of the bone trabeculae of the navicular bone was observed to change from dorsal to palmar.
  • In young post-gestational horses, evidence of progressive roughening or fraying was seen on the palmar surface of the navicular bone and the opposing surface of the deep digital flexor tendon.

Cite This Article

APA
Hoffer MA, Leach DH, Doige CE. (1989). The developmental anatomy of the equine navicular bursa and associated structures. Anat Embryol (Berl), 179(4), 355-367. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00305062

Publication

Anatomy and embryology
ISSN: 0340-2061
NlmUniqueID: 7505194
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 179
Issue: 4
Pages: 355-367

Researcher Affiliations

Hoffer, M A
  • Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
Leach, D H
    Doige, C E

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Fetus / anatomy & histology
      • Fetus / cytology
      • Foot / anatomy & histology
      • Foot / cytology
      • Foot / embryology
      • Horses / anatomy & histology

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      Citations

      This article has been cited 2 times.
      1. Osborn ML, Cornille JL, Blas-Machado U, Uhl EW. The equine navicular apparatus as a premier enthesis organ: Functional implications. Vet Surg 2021 May;50(4):713-728.
        doi: 10.1111/vsu.13620pubmed: 33710628google scholar: lookup
      2. Gabrie A, Detilleux J, Jolly S, Reginster J-Y, Collin B, Dessy-Doizé C. Morphometric study of the equine navicular bone: age-related changes and influence of exercise. Vet Res Commun 1999 Jan;23(1):15-40.
        doi: 10.1023/a:1006102921304pubmed: 10905816google scholar: lookup
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