The Connectivity and Histological Structure of the Equine Ergot—A Preliminary Study

Abstract

The equine ergot is a dense fibrous cushion on the palmar aspect of the fetlock joint that often manifests externally as a variably sized callosity. The study presented here investigated the macroscopic structure, connectivity, and the histological properties of the ergot to elucidate its functional significance. Distal forelimbs, obtained from 18 horses euthanized for reasons unassociated with this study, were dissected using photography and videography to record the observed connections. In an additional five limbs, a section of the ergot was dissected and prepared for histological and immunohistochemical staining to examine its tissue structure and innervation. The ergot tissue was found ..