Circumflex Junction Arterial Vasculature Lateral View

Purpose

This illustration is the lateral view of the arterial vasculature of the circumflex junction within the equine hoof. It is one of a series of illustrations created for Dr Joanne Kramer who teaches at the University of Missouri. These illustrations will accompany various venograms and other clinically important images, and help the viewer differentiate the arterial components of the lamellar circumflex junction. Understanding the vasculature within the hoof is critical when interpreting venograms. The information provided by the venograms helps manage the laminitic horse, by determining the best course of treatment and helping predict the results.

Laminitis is a very complex disease process that takes place within the tight confines of the hoof capsule. Illustrating this complex anatomy is a challenge. There is a lot going on in a very small space, and many different anatomical structures overlap and penetrate each other. Utilizing a combination of ghosting part of the terminal arch, while removing portions of the distal phalanx (P3), reveals what is going on both inside and underneath the distal phalanx. This allows the viewer to understand how the circumflex vessels are formed from the terminal arch deep within P3 extending all the way out to the terminal papillae at the distal margin of P3.

For better understanding, the arterial and venous systems were broken out into separate illustrations. The other illustrations in this series are the circumflex vessels arterial vasculature dorsopalmar view, the hemodynamics venous blood flow within equine hoof and the biomechanical pump venous drainage within the equine hoof.