V. Muscles of the Leg and Foot

There are four digital extensors, two of which are fused with each other and the peroneus tertius in the upper third of the leg.

1. The anterior or long digital extensor (M. extensor digitalis longus) arises by the common tendon in the extensor fossa of the femur, and separates from the other muscles near the middle of the leg. At the distal end of the tibia it terminates on a tendon which passes down over the hock (bound down by two annular ligaments) and ends like that of the thoracic limb.

2. The internal digital extensor (M. extensor digiti tertii proprius) arises in common with the preceding muscle and the peroneus tertius, and is covered by them to the distal third of the tibia. Its tendon passes under the annular ligaments between those of its cogeners and ends on the second phalanx of the inner digit.

3. The lateral digital extensor (M. extensor digitalis lateralis s. digiti quarti proprius) arises on the external lateral ligament of the stifle joint and the external condyle of the tibia. Its tendon passes over the outer surface of the hock, and terminates on the anterior surface of the second phalanx of the external digit.

The reinforcing bands from the suspensory ligament are arranged as in the fore limb.

4. The extensor brevis resembles that of the horse, but is inserted on the tendon of the anterior extensor only.

The peroneus longus (not present in the horse) is situated in front of the lateral extensor. It arises on the external condyle of the tibia and the fibrous band which represents the shaft of the fibula. Its tendon passes downward and backward over the outer surface of the hock, crosses over that of the lateral extensor and under the lateral ligament, and ends on the first tarsal bone (Cuneiform parvum). It is enveloped by a synovial sheath. It would apparently act as an inward rotator at the hock joint.

The peroneus tertius is a well-developed muscle which arises on the common tendon with the long and internal extensors. It has a large, fusiform belly, which is superficially situated on the front of the leg. Close to the tarsus it ends on a flat tendon, which is perforated by that of the tibialis anterior, and ends on the large metatarsal and second and third (fused) tarsal bones (Cuneiform magnum).

The tibialis anterior is smaller, and arises by two heads. The larger head springs from the outer surface of the tuberosity of the tibia; the outer, smaller one (M. extensor hallucis longus), from the upper part of the external border of the tibia and the fibrous band which replaces the shaft of the fibula. The tendon perforates that of the preceding muscle and ends on the metatarsal and second and third tarsal bones.