A histological study of macroscopically normal equine digital flexor tendons.
The normal appearance of the superficial (SFT) and deep (DFT) digital flexor tendons was described and the difference between their histological structures was emphasised. Further differences were recognised between different sites from the same tendon and between tendons in the fore and hind limbs of the same animal. Both of the tendons underwent changes with age but although a number of alterations in the histological appearance were described, a particular change, involving a patchy loss of stainable nuclei, was found at the common site of SFT injuries. While this appearance has been seen in injured tendons and described as tendon necrosis, the author warns that no cause and effect relationship has been established between the acellularity and the clinical lesions. Neither is it certain that the loss of tendon cells results in mechanical weakness of the tendon.
D000818:Animals; D005552:Forelimb / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006614:Hindlimb; D006736:Horses / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D009132:Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013710:Tendons / Q000033:anatomy & histology*