Short communication: An ultrasound study of healthy digital flexor tendons on the metapode in meat calves

Abstract

Until now, there has been little investigation of the ultrasonographic appearance of normal anatomical structures of distal limbs and normal dimensions of digital flexor tendons in calves. Studies on the descriptive and topographic anatomy of soft tissue structures in limbs are essential before ultrasonographic signs of injury can be recognized. Ultrasound measurements of the normal size of tendons and ligaments allow recognition of abnormalities. The aim of this study is to provide ultrasonographic measurements of digital flexor tendons in the metapodial region in the meat calf. For this purpose, limbs (right and left forelimbs and right and left hindlimbs) from 11 healthy Bruna dels Pirineus and their F1 crosses calves (345-672 days of age and 160.0-331.5 kg carcass weight) were studied post mortem. Cross transverse sections for the structures of three metapodial zones were studied echographically at 7.5 MHz with an ExaGo machine. Although some studies of morphometric measurements by ultrasound in cattle have been reported, no survey of the measurements and proportions of all flexor tendons and ligaments in the metapodial region of calves was found in the literature. The results of this descriptive study allow the establishment of thickness of healthy digital flexor tendons and provide with echographic reference data in young bovines.