Fetlock
Introduction
The fetlock joint (metacarpophalangeal joint) is between the canon bone and the long pastern bone. There are two smaller bones at the back of the fetlock, the sesamoid bones, where the suspensory ligament branches attach. The flexor tendons run down the back of the sesamoid bones within the digital sheath. The fetlock joint is a hinge joint which means it can flex and extend but does not move from side to side due to strong collateral ligaments providing support. Lameness due to injuries in the fetlock region are relatively common in both the fore and hindlimbs. A useful indicator that this region is causing a problem is to assess whether flexing the joint causes the animal discomfort.