THE ANATOMY OF THE DIGITAL SYNOVIAL TENDO N SHEATH IN THE HORSE

The authors give a description of the anatomy of the digital synovial flexor tendon sheath in horses. The anular ligament and the proximal d igital anular ligament represent its backside, the frontside of the te ndon sheath is formed by the Scutum proximale, the distal sesamoidean ligaments and the Scutum medium. The authors paid attention to a fasci al stripe, which is about 3 mm wide and extends between the anular lig ament and the proximal branches of the proximal digital anular ligamen t. Synovial membrane taken from the seven pouches of the tendon sheath was investigated by scanning electron microscopy and its function was discussed. The distal unpaired pouch of the synovial tendon sheath sh owed no synovial folds, no villi and no continuous layer of synovial c ells.