Hock (zoology)
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The hock, or gambrel, is the tarsal joint of a digitigrade quadruped, such as a horse, cat, or dog.
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[edit] Horse hock
In the horse, the hock consists of multiple joints, namely:
- Tibiotarsal or Tarsocrural joint
- Proximal Intertarsal joint or Talocalcanealcentroquartal joint
- Distal Intertarsal joint or Centrodistal joint
- Tarsometatarsal joint
- Talocalcaneal joint
In the horse, the hock consists of the following bones
- Talus
- Calcaneus
- Central tarsal bone
- 3rd tarsal bone
- 3rd metatarsal bone
- 4th tarsal bone
- Fused 1st and 2nd tarsal bone
[edit] Equine disease states
- Horses may suffer from "capped hock", which is caused by swelling of the calcanean bursa, a synovial sac beneath the skin which protects the bone. Capped hock is usually caused by trauma such as kicking or slipping when attempting to stand. In the absence of a wound, it does not require immediate veterinary attention and is usually only of cosmetic significance. On the other hand, a wound into the calcanean bursa is a serious problem. A capped hock is extremely unlikely to be a cause of lameness, even if severe.
- An increase in the synovial fluid of the tibiotarsal joint is called bog spavin.
- Degenerative joint disease of the tarsometatarsal or distal intertarsal joint is referred to as bone spavin.
[edit] See also
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