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Hoof - Anatomy & Physiology (view source)
Revision as of 11:41, 19 August 2011
, 11:41, 19 August 2011→Equine Hoof
===Equine Hoof===
===Equine Hoof===
[[image: X-section through hoof.jpg|thumb|200px|right|A X-section through a typical hoof. ©Rachael Wallace2008]]
[[image: X-section through hoof.jpg|thumb|200px|right|A X-section through a typical hoof. ©Rachael Wallace2008]]
[[image: Plantar hoof aspect.jpg|thumb|175px|left|A view of the solar surface of an equine hoof. The wall has been removed on the right to show the underlying dermis. ©Rachael Wallace2008]]
As outlined above, the equine hoof can be divided into three topographical regions; the '''wall''', the '''frog''' and the '''sole'''. The '''wall''' forms the medial, lateral and dorsal aspect of the hoof. It can be further divided into the '''toe''', '''quarters''' and '''heels'''. At the heel the walls reflect back on themselves at a point called the '''angles''' and in doing so forms the '''bars'''. The bars fade out before they meet cranially and run along the edge of the frog within the sole. The '''frog''' sits between the bars and has an apex facing dorsally, with 2 crura flanking a central sulcus. Between the crus and bar of each half lies the '''collateral sulcus'''. Opposite the apex the frog expands forming the '''bulbs of the heel'''. The '''sole''' is the area dorsal to the bars and apex of the frog enclosed by the hoof wall. The area where the bars and wall enclose it is known as the '''angle of the sole'''.
As outlined above, the equine hoof can be divided into three topographical regions; the '''wall''', the '''frog''' and the '''sole'''. The '''wall''' forms the medial, lateral and dorsal aspect of the hoof. It can be further divided into the '''toe''', '''quarters''' and '''heels'''. At the heel the walls reflect back on themselves at a point called the '''angles''' and in doing so forms the '''bars'''. The bars fade out before they meet cranially and run along the edge of the frog within the sole. The '''frog''' sits between the bars and has an apex facing dorsally, with 2 crura flanking a central sulcus. Between the crus and bar of each half lies the '''collateral sulcus'''. Opposite the apex the frog expands forming the '''bulbs of the heel'''. The '''sole''' is the area dorsal to the bars and apex of the frog enclosed by the hoof wall. The area where the bars and wall enclose it is known as the '''angle of the sole'''.
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A well-trimmed foot should weight bear on its walls, bars and frog. This occurs as the weight applied to the distal phalanx is then transferred across the interdigitating laminae to the hoof wall. Thus an injury resulting in damage to the laminae is of extreme importance to the horse.
A well-trimmed foot should weight bear on its walls, bars and frog. This occurs as the weight applied to the distal phalanx is then transferred across the interdigitating laminae to the hoof wall. Thus an injury resulting in damage to the laminae is of extreme importance to the horse. For further details on equine distal limb anatomy see the [[Equine Phalanges - Anatomy & Physiology|equine phalanges]] page and see the [[Laminitis_-_Horse|laminitis]] page for information regarding lame horses.
For further detail see the [[Equine Phalanges - Anatomy & Physiology|equine phalanges]] page.
===Ruminant Hoof===
===Ruminant Hoof===