Part 172

The foregoing account describes the most common arrangement of the dorsal and volar metacarpal arteries. Variations in their origin and connections are common, but have no great surgical importance. Collateral branches are omitted for the same reason. In some cases the internal volar metacarpal is connected with the common digital or large metacarpal artery a little below the carpus by a branch passing obliquely across the inner border of the deep flexor tendon; this forms a superficial volar arch.

THE COMMON DIGITAL ARTERY

FIG. 447.—DISSECTION OF RIGHT CARPUS, METACARPUS, AND DIGIT OF HORSE, INNER VIEW. (After Schmaltz, Atlas d. Anat. d. Pferdes.) ]

The =common digital= or =large metacarpal artery= is the direct continuation of the posterior radial. It descends in the carpal canal along the inner side of the flexor tendons in company with the inner branch of the median nerve and a satellite vein. Continuing down the limb it preserves this relation to the tendons to the distal third of the metacarpus, where it inclines toward the middle line of the limb behind the suspensory ligament, and divides into the internal and external digital arteries. In the metacarpus the artery is related to the vein in front and the artery behind, and is covered by the fascia and skin. It furnishes collateral branches to the suspensory ligament, the flexor tendons, and the skin.

THE DIGITAL ARTERIES

The =internal= and =external digital arteries= (A. digitalis medialis, lateralis) are formed by the bifurcation of the common digital at the distal third of the metacarpus. They diverge, pass down over the outer surface of the corresponding sesamoid at the fetlock, and descend parallel with the borders of the deep flexor tendon to the volar grooves and foramina of the third phalanx. Entering the latter the two arteries unite in the semilunar canal and form the =terminal arch= (Arcus terminalis), from which numerous branches pass through the bone to the wall surface and ramify in the matrix of the wall and sole of the hoof. A number of branches emerge through the foramina at the lower border, where they anastomose with each other in arciform fashion. These branches were named by Spooner the inferior communicating arteries, and the anastomotic arch formed by them is termed the circumflex artery of the third phalanx (Chauveau) or the artery of the lower border of the third phalanx (Leisering).

Each artery is accompanied by a vein and by the digital nerves. Above the fetlock the artery is most deeply placed and is covered by the vein; the nerve is behind the vein. At the fetlock the artery has become superficial and is related to the vein in front and the posterior branch of the nerve behind. The anterior branch of the nerve crosses over the artery obliquely to the lateral aspect of the first phalanx. The vessels and nerves are crossed obliquely by a small tendinous band, the ligament of the ergot, which begins in the fibrous basis of the ergot at the back of the fetlock and extends downward and forward to end in the fascia at the side of the pastern joint.

In addition to branches to the joints, tendons and synovial sheath, ergot, and skin, the digital arteries give off:

1. The =artery of the first phalanx= or perpendicular artery (A. phalangis primæ), a short trunk which arises at a right angle about the middle of the first phalanx, and divides into dorsal and volar branches (Rami dorsales et volares). The dorsal (anterior) branch passes between the first phalanx and the extensor tendon and ramifies on the front of the digit, anastomosing with its fellow. The volar (posterior) branch dips in between the flexor tendons and the inferior sesamoidean ligaments and anastomoses with the opposite artery.

2. The =artery of the plantar cushion= (A. toricæ phalangis tertiæ) arises at the proximal border of the lateral cartilage and passes backward and downward to ramify in the plantar cushion and the matrix of the heels and frog.

3. The =dorsal artery of the second phalanx= (Ramus dorsalis phalangis secundæ) arises a little above the navicular bone, and passes forward under cover of the lateral cartilage and the extensor tendon to the front of the second phalanx, where it anastomoses with the opposite vessel. It gives branches to the skin, the tendon, the coffin joint, and the coronary matrix of the hoof.

4. The =volar artery of the second phalanx= (Ramus volaris phalangis secundæ) is smaller than the preceding, opposite to which it arises. It passes above the proximal border of the third sesamoid and unites with the opposite artery.

The arteries of the second phalanx form what is termed by Chauveau the =coronary circle=. The dorsal (anterior) part of the circle gives off commonly an artery (A. coronalis phalangis tertiæ) near either side of the extensor tendon, which divides into two branches. The central branch unites with that of the opposite side, while the other joins a branch of the artery of the plantar cushion. In this way is formed the =circumflex artery of the coronary cushion=, an anastomotic arch which lies on the extensor tendon at the coronet. In some cases descending branches of the arteries of the first phalanx concur in the formation of the arch.

5. The =dorsal artery of the third phalanx= or preplantar artery (A. dorsalis phalangis tertiæ) arises at the deep face of the wing of the third phalanx, passes outward through the notch or foramen there, and runs forward in the groove on the wall surface. It gives off ascending and descending branches, which ramify in the matrix of the wall of the hoof, anastomosing above with the circumflex artery of the coronary cushion and below with the circumflex artery of the third phalanx. Before passing through the wing it detaches a retrograde branch to the plantar cushion, and after emerging one which ramifies on the outer aspect of the lateral cartilage.

The terminal part of the digital artery after giving off the preceding vessel is sometimes termed the plantar.

BRANCHES OF THE THORACIC AORTA

In addition to the coronary arteries and the common brachiocephalic trunk (which have been described), the thoracic part of the aorta gives off branches to the thoracic walls and viscera and to the spinal cord and its membranes. The =visceral branches= (Rami viscerales) are the bronchial and œsophageal, which arise by a broncho-œsophageal trunk. The =parietal branches= (Rami parietales) are the intercostal and phrenic arteries.

1. The =broncho-œsophageal= (Truncus broncho-œsophageus) is a short, usually bulbous, trunk which arises at the sixth thoracic vertebra from the aorta or in common with the first aortic intercostal arteries. It passes (under cover of the vena azygos) down the right face of the aorta toward the bifurcation of the trachea and divides into bronchial and œsophageal branches.

(a) The =bronchial artery= (A. bronchialis) crosses the left face of the œsophagus to the bifurcation of the trachea, where it divides into right and left branches. Each enters the hilus of the corresponding lung above the bronchus, which it accompanies in its ramification. It supplies the lung tissue and also detaches twigs to the bronchial lymph glands and the mediastinum.

(b) The =œsophageal artery= (A. œsophagea) (Fig. 429) is a small vessel which passes backward above the œsophagus in the posterior mediastinum and anastomoses with the œsophageal branch of the gastric artery. It detaches twigs to the œsophagus and the mediastinal lymph glands and pleura, and also gives off two branches which pass between the layers of the ligaments of the lungs and ramify in the subpleural tissue. Very commonly there is another artery which runs backward ventral to the œsophagus.

In some cases there is no broncho-œsophageal trunk, the bronchial and œsophageal arising separately. In other cases the second aortic intercostal arises in common with them also.

2. The =intercostal arteries= (Aa. intercostales) (Figs. 428, 429) number eighteen pairs. The first arises from the deep cervical artery, the next three from the subcostal branch of the dorsal artery, and the remainder from the aorta. The aortic intercostals arise from the dorsal face of the aorta in pairs close together; the fifth and sixth usually spring from a common stem. Each passes across the body of a vertebra to the corresponding intercostal space, detaches twigs to the vertebræ and the pleura, and divides into dorsal and ventral branches. The =dorsal branch= (Ramus dorsalis) gives off a spinal branch (Ramus spinalis) which passes through the intervertebral foramen, gives twigs to the membranes of the spinal cord, perforates the dura, and reinforces the ventral spinal artery. A muscular branch passes to the muscles and skin of the back. The =ventral branch= (Ramus ventralis) is much the larger. It passes downward, at first almost in the middle of the intercostal space between the intercostal muscles, then gains the posterior border of the rib and is subpleural. Each is accompanied by a vein and nerve, the artery being in the middle and the vein in front. At the lower part of the space it unites with a ventral intercostal branch of the internal thoracic or the asternal artery. It supplies the intercostal muscles, the ribs and the pleura, and gives off perforating branches which pass out to the serratus magnus, the abdominal muscles, and the skin.

3. The =phrenic arteries= (Aa. phrenicæ) are two or three small vessels which arise at the hiatus aorticus from the ventral aspect of the aorta, often by a common trunk. They supply the crura of the diaphragm. In some cases they arise in common with an intercostal artery.

BRANCHES OF THE ABDOMINAL AORTA

The collateral branches of the abdominal part of the aorta are distributed chiefly to the walls and contents of the abdominal cavity, but some branches are supplied to the spinal cord and its membranes, and others extend into the pelvis and to the scrotum. The =visceral branches= are the cœliac, anterior mesenteric, renal, posterior mesenteric, and the spermatic or utero-ovarian. The =parietal branches= are the lumbar arteries.

FIG. 448.—PLAN OF BRANCHES OF CŒLIAC ARTERY OF HORSE.

1, Cœliac artery; 2, gastric artery; 3, hepatic artery; 4, splenic artery; 5, posterior gastric artery; 6, anterior gastric artery; 7, œsophageal branch; 8, gastro-duodenal artery; 9, pancreatico-duodenal artery; 10, right gastro-epiploic artery; 11, pyloric artery; 12, left gastro-epiploic artery; 13, short gastric branches of splenic. ]

I. The =cœliac artery= or =axis= (A. cœliaca) is an unpaired vessel, usually half an inch or less (ca. 1 cm.) in length, which arises from the ventral aspect of the aorta at its emergence from the hiatus aorticus. It divides on the dorsal surface of the pancreas into three branches—the gastric, hepatic, and splenic.