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===Femur===
 
===Femur===
 
The '''[[Hindlimb - Anatomy & Physiology#Femur|femur]]''' has a notched femoral head that is wedge-shaped and opens towards the medial side of the head. The apex of the '''fovea''' on the femoral head serves as the point of attachmentfor the '''ligament of the head of the femur'''. At the base of the fovea  is the '''accessory ligament''' from the prepubic tendon; which has most of its fibres originating from tendon of insertion of the ''rectus abdominis'' muscle. The femoral neck is indistinct in the horse, continuous laterally with '''greater trochanter'''; which is divided into a smaller cranial and larger caudal part. The caudal part of the greater trochanter extends beyond the the dorsal limit of the femoral head and ventrally contributes to lateral border of '''trochanteric fossa'''. The medial border of trochanteric fossa is formed by the '''lesser trochanter'''. The horse has an extra process called the '''third trochanter''' that is situated on the lateral aspect of the proximal third of the femoral shaft and allows the ''superficial gluteal'' muscle to insert here. The third trochanter is also the origin of the ''superficial digital flexor'' muscle. The trochanteric fossa has a raised lateral edge known as the '''lateral supracondylar tuberosity''', where the lateral head of the ''gastrocnemius'' arises. The medial and lateral '''condyles''' at the distal ends of the femur are separated by the '''intercondylar fossa'''. Both condyles extend to form trochlea, the medial ridge of which is larger than lateral ridge and provides a tubercle projecting proximally. This large medial protuberance is critical in the '''patellar locking mechanism''' of the stifle. The trochlea also provides a gliding surface for articulation with the patella.
 
The '''[[Hindlimb - Anatomy & Physiology#Femur|femur]]''' has a notched femoral head that is wedge-shaped and opens towards the medial side of the head. The apex of the '''fovea''' on the femoral head serves as the point of attachmentfor the '''ligament of the head of the femur'''. At the base of the fovea  is the '''accessory ligament''' from the prepubic tendon; which has most of its fibres originating from tendon of insertion of the ''rectus abdominis'' muscle. The femoral neck is indistinct in the horse, continuous laterally with '''greater trochanter'''; which is divided into a smaller cranial and larger caudal part. The caudal part of the greater trochanter extends beyond the the dorsal limit of the femoral head and ventrally contributes to lateral border of '''trochanteric fossa'''. The medial border of trochanteric fossa is formed by the '''lesser trochanter'''. The horse has an extra process called the '''third trochanter''' that is situated on the lateral aspect of the proximal third of the femoral shaft and allows the ''superficial gluteal'' muscle to insert here. The third trochanter is also the origin of the ''superficial digital flexor'' muscle. The trochanteric fossa has a raised lateral edge known as the '''lateral supracondylar tuberosity''', where the lateral head of the ''gastrocnemius'' arises. The medial and lateral '''condyles''' at the distal ends of the femur are separated by the '''intercondylar fossa'''. Both condyles extend to form trochlea, the medial ridge of which is larger than lateral ridge and provides a tubercle projecting proximally. This large medial protuberance is critical in the '''patellar locking mechanism''' of the stifle. The trochlea also provides a gliding surface for articulation with the patella.
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===Patella===
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The patella is roughly triangular in shape with a base proximally and apex distally. Medially there is patellar fibrocartilage. The articular surface is divided by a '''saggital ridge''', which fits between groove of the '''femoral trochlea'''. The articular surfaces of the femoral trochlea and the patella are further divided by '''transverse ridges''' into large gliding and small resting surfaces. When the resting surfaces of patella and the trochlea are in contact, the patella rests on the proximal end of the trochlea; this occurs when the horse bears weight equally on both hindlimbs.
    
===Tibia and Fibula===
 
===Tibia and Fibula===
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