Anatomy of the equine digit on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Anatomy of the equine digit on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Anatomy of the equine digit on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

  • Antoine Micheau, MD , Denis HOA, MD , Susanne AEB Boroffka, PhD - dipl. ECVDI
    • Antoine Micheau, MD : 2 Allée Charles Darwin, 34170 Castelnau-le-lez
    • Denis HOA, MD : 2 Allée Charles Darwin, 34170 Castelnau-le-lez
    • Susanne AEB Boroffka, PhD - dipl. ECVDI : 2 Allée Charles Darwin, 34170 Castelnau-le-lez
  • Publication date: Jun 3, 2020 | Last update: Mar 18, 2025
  • https://doi.org/10.37019/vet-anatomy/726635 ISSN 2534-5087

The aim of this module is to show the normal anatomy of the horse’s distal limb (hoof, foot and pastern) on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

This labeled cross-sectional atlas of equine foot anatomy provides:

  • Basic anatomical data and reference images for interpreting diagnostic imaging of the lameness horse
  • Anatomical guidelines and references for equine veterinarians and students for the physical examination, analgesia and treatment in equine medicine.

The MRI images of the equine digit used in this module were provided by Gwendolyn J. Levine, (DVM, DACVP). The MRI was performed on the left forefoot of a normal Quarter Horse gelding, using a Siemens Verio 3T MRI at Texas A&M University’s College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, College Station, TX.

This module on the essentials images of the anatomy of the equine locomotor system was created and labeled by Antoine Micheau - MD

The anatomical labels are mainly in English, translated from the Nomina Anatomica Veterinaria  (http://www.wava-amav.org/wava-documents.html), according to the recommendations of the International Committee on Veterinary Nomenclature. 

The anatomical veterinary terms of this module are also available in Latin, the original version of the NAV and translated into other languages such as Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, German, Japanese, Korean, Chinese and French.

 

Notes from the author:

  • Horny structures like hoof wall and horny sole are almost invisible on DP and T2 stir sequences. We chose to put the label on the location of these horny structures for educational purposes, so it might be displayed in an empty area of the MR images. However, we added at the end of this module 3D images where the user may directly see the anatomical structures of the horny hoof.
  • Some structures like small branches of nerves, veins or arteries cannot be clearly seen on MRI. But, for educational purposes, we chose to label their most likely usual location without displaying directly these structures (even though the main proper digital artery, vein and nerves are clearly visible on all images).

 

Cross-sectional labeled anatomy of the equine digit on MR imaging (hoof, foot, phalanges (long pastern bone, short pastern bone, coffin bone, distal sesamoid bone), sesamoid ligaments, Superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT), Deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT), Common digital extensor tendon, podotrochlear bursa, proper digital artery, vein an nerve, hoof capsule)
Cross-sectional labeled anatomy of the equine digit on MR imaging (hoof, foot, phalanges (long pastern bone, short pastern bone, coffin bone, distal sesamoid bone), sesamoid ligaments, Superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT), Deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT), Common digital extensor tendon, podotrochlear bursa, proper digital artery, vein an nerve, hoof capsule)

 

Digit - Horse: MRI - T2-STIR (Transversal)
Digit - Horse: MRI - T2-STIR (Transversal)

 

Anatomy of the equine digit (MRI): MRI - PD - Sagittal (Proximal phalanx [Long pastern bone], Middle phalanx [Short pastern bone], Distal phalanx [Ungual bone; Coffin bone; Pedal bone])
Anatomy of the equine digit (MRI): MRI - PD - Sagittal (Proximal phalanx [Long pastern bone], Middle phalanx [Short pastern bone], Distal phalanx [Ungual bone; Coffin bone; Pedal bone])

 

Anatomy of the equine digit on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Superficial digital flexor tendon [SDFT], Common digital extensor tendon, Deep digital flexor tendon [DDFT], Proximal interphalangeal joint [Pastern joint; PIP joint], Distal interphalangeal joint [Coffin joint; DIP joint]
Anatomy of the equine digit on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Superficial digital flexor tendon [SDFT], Common digital extensor tendon, Deep digital flexor tendon [DDFT], Proximal interphalangeal joint [Pastern joint; PIP joint], Distal interphalangeal joint [Coffin joint; DIP joint]

 

Anatomy atlas - Horse (MRI - PD - Dorsal): Thoracic limb - Forepaw
Anatomy atlas - Horse (MRI - PD - Dorsal): Thoracic limb - Forepaw

 

Horse - Cross-sectional anatomy (MRI - CLL PD): Lateral collateral sesamoid ligament, Medial collateral sesamoid ligament, Lateral collateral ligament - Distal interphalangeal joint [Coffin joint; DIP joint], Distal digital annular ligament
Horse - Cross-sectional anatomy (MRI - CLL PD): Lateral collateral sesamoid ligament, Medial collateral sesamoid ligament, Lateral collateral ligament - Distal interphalangeal joint [Coffin joint; DIP joint], Distal digital annular ligament

 

Foot and hoof anatomy of the horse on MRI (MRI - Flash-T1-FS-3D): Limbus, Corona of hoof [Coronet], Wall, Sole, Digital pad, Footpad, Frog, Hoof capsule, Digital cushion
Foot and hoof anatomy of the horse on MRI (MRI - Flash-T1-FS-3D): Limbus, Corona of hoof [Coronet], Wall, Sole, Digital pad, Footpad, Frog, Hoof capsule, Digital cushion

 

Cross-sectional labeled anatomy of the equine digit on MR imaging (hoof, foot, phalanges (long pastern bone, short pastern bone, coffin bone, distal sesamoid bone), sesamoid ligaments, Superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT), Deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT), Common digital extensor tendon, podotrochlear bursa, proper digital artery, vein an nerve, hoof capsule)
Cross
Digit - Horse: MRI - T2-STIR (Transversal)
Digit
Anatomy of the equine digit (MRI): MRI - PD - Sagittal (Proximal phalanx [Long pastern bone], Middle phalanx [Short pastern bone], Distal phalanx [Ungual bone; Coffin bone; Pedal bone])
Anatomy of the equine digit (MRI): MRI
Anatomy of the equine digit on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Superficial digital flexor tendon [SDFT], Common digital extensor tendon, Deep digital flexor tendon [DDFT], Proximal interphalangeal joint [Pastern joint; PIP joint], Distal interphalangeal joint [Coffin joint; DIP joint]
Anatomy of the equine digit on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Superficial digital flexor tendon [SDFT], Common digital extensor tendon, Deep digital flexor tendon [DDFT], Proximal interphalangeal joint [Pastern joint; PIP joint], Distal interphalangeal joint [Coffin joint; DIP joint]
Anatomy atlas - Horse (MRI - PD - Dorsal): Thoracic limb - Forepaw
Anatomy atlas
Horse - Cross-sectional anatomy (MRI - CLL PD): Lateral collateral sesamoid ligament, Medial collateral sesamoid ligament, Lateral collateral ligament - Distal interphalangeal joint [Coffin joint; DIP joint], Distal digital annular ligament
Horse
Foot and hoof anatomy of the horse on MRI (MRI - Flash-T1-FS-3D): Limbus, Corona of hoof [Coronet], Wall, Sole, Digital pad, Footpad, Frog, Hoof capsule, Digital cushion
Foot and hoof anatomy of the horse on MRI (MRI
  • The Equine Distal Limb: An Atlas of Clinical Anatomy and Comparative Imaging. Jean-Marie Denoix. CRC Press, Jul 11, 200
  • Essentials of Clinical Anatomy of the Equine Locomotor System. Jean-Marie Denoix. CRC Press
  • Color Atlas of Veterinary Anatomy, Volume 2, The Horse. Raymond R. Ashdown & Stanley H. Done. Ed. Mosby
  • Veterinary Anatomy of Domestic Mammals. Textbook and Colour Atlas. Edited by: Horst Erich König. Veterinarmedizinische Universität Wien, Austria
  • Anatomie comparée des mammifères domestiques. Robert Barone – Ed. Vigot
  • Illustrated Veterinary Anatomical Nomenclature. Oskar Schaller, Gheorghe M. Constantinescu. Georg Thieme Verlag, 2007
  • Nomina Anatomica Veterinaria - 6th Edition – 2017