THE digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS) is a compartment that contains the major flexor tendons: namely, the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) and the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT). It produces a small quantity of synovial fluid which acts as a lubricant, allowing the tendons to move without friction across the pastern and fetlock joints as the horse moves, and helping to protect them from repetitive stresses and compressive forces.
Significantly, the sheath lies just under the skin and at places is less than 5mm from the surface of the skin. This leaves the tendons inside vulnerable to injury. Adding to this, tendons that sit outside tendon sheaths benefit from a thick protective tissue layer known as the paratenon, but those within the DFTS have no such layer surrounding them, which is one of the reasons why tendon injuries within the sheath do not heal as well or as quickly as those that occur outside it.
MAJOR ANATOMY
THE DFTS is found in all four of the horse’s limbs, and extends from the lower third of the cannon bone to the navicular bursa (a small, fluid-filled sac that acts like a cushion between tendons and bones) inside the hoof capsule, at the level of the short pastern.
The DFTS is separated into three anatomical zones:
Bu hikaye Horse & Hound dergisinin November 25, 2021 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Horse & Hound dergisinin November 25, 2021 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Private investigator
Sean Memory is a retired detective now assisting the National Trainers Federation, dealing with online and in-person abuse
Caroline Powell
The Badminton winner tells Martha Terry about the story of her victory, perseverance, and how trusting her intuition paid off for the opinionated but brilliant \"Cav\"
‘The industry needs to act fast’
Nina Barbour on perception and social licence in a fast-changing world
“Try these useful, free resources’
Carl Hester on the importance of training and accepting criticism
Dispute over places at Paris Olympics
Chile is fighting for its dressage place at the Games this summer, and has lost its one eventing individual slot
Pointing champions crowned for 2023/24:
New names took the champion jockey titles, as a 10-year reign was ended
Lack of accountability highlights issues as vulnerable horses saved
No authorities took any action after 26 horses in transit were intercepted near Dover last year
Germany's decision to ban training young horses raises questions
The education of young horses has been thrust into the spotlight with a change to welfare law in Germany
Jappeloup
A small horse who looked like two halves put together’, Jappeloup nonetheless proved to have a big heart and a huge talent”.
Collett takes two
A bumper fixture hosts 12 intermediate and open intermediate sections, as Paris contenders blow away the cobwebs