SOME ASPECTS OF THE MACROSCOPIC AND SCANN ING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPIC ANATOMY OF THE BOVINE DIGITAL FLEXOR TENDON SHEATH (VAGINA SYNOVIALIS TENDINUM DIGITORUM MANUS PEDIS) ACID ANNULAR LIGAMENTS (LIGAMENTUM ANULARE PALMARE, LIGAMENTA ANULARIA DIGITI) OF THE BOVINE TOE/

The anular ligaments of bovine toes were investigated by means of cast s of the digital flexor tendon sheath as well as by scanning electron microscopy. The Ligamentum metacarpeum transversum (Ligamentum anulare palmare) is widely connected with the proximal Pars anularis vaginae fibrosae (Ligamentum anulare digiti), In most cases both structures ar e only separated on the abaxial side, that is why the digital flexor t endon sheath can pouch between them. The fascia of the area of the pro ximal phalanx forms two transversally oriented anular ligaments on the palmar surface. These are connected by crossed fibres - the Pars cruc iformis. Axially and abaxially to the Pars cruciformis the digital fle xor tendon sheath forms pouches. Between the distal Ligamentum anulare digiti and the Ligamentum interdigitale distale the digital flexor te ndon sheath forms a large subcutaneous recess. As the surface of this recess shows a lot of synovial villi, this recess is regarded to play an important role concerning production and resorption of synovial flu id. As this recess is located under the skin between the paradigiti an d the digital tori, an injury in this area is considered to be quite s evere.