This page has information about the lay terminology commonly used in equine practice.
It is split into two groups – anatomical terms and disease terms.
Anatomy:
The distal phalanx or P3 of the digit.
The last bone at the end of the limb, that the horse walks inside the hoof capsule.
The distal interphalangeal joint.
The middle phalanx or P2.
This articulates with the proximal interphalangeal joint (pastern) proximally and distal interphalangeal joint (coffin) distally.
The proximal phalanx or P1.
This articulates with the metacarpo/tarsophalangeal joint (fetlock) proximally and the proximal interphalangeal joint (pastern) distally.
The proximal interphalangeal joint.
The metacarpophalangeal or metatarsophalangeal joint. The articulation between the 3rd metacarpal/metatarsal bone and the proximal phalanx.
The 3rd metacarpal/metatarsal bone
The carpus
The tarsus
A horny growth on the inside of the forelimb, proximal to the carpus and near the distal aspect of the inside of the tarsus.
A horny growth on the palmar/plantar side of the fetlock. Generally larger in draft horses