The developmental anatomy of the equine navicular bursa and associated structures

The navicular bone, navicular bursa and their associated structures were collected from 20 horses ranging in age from 80 days gestation to 2 years post-gestation. The right front foot of every horse was sampled for light microscopy. The development of the navicular bursa and associated structures were studied. Study of the developmental anatomy of the equine navicular bursa established that the bursa is a distinct entity in both the fetus and the adult horse. Development of the bursal cavity in the fetus was found to be complete by 120 days of gestation. Synovial membrane of the navicular bursa was first evident at 100 days of fetal age. With increasing fetal maturation there was a concurrent development in the synovial membrane consisting of increased cellularity, vascularity and villi formation. Nerve fibers or nerve endings were not observed within the synovial membrane of the navicular bursa. However, nerve bundles were often observed within the associated connective tissue, bursal capsule and distal navicular ligament. Pacinian corpuscles were observed in the 200-day fetus in close proximity to the navicular bursa. The development of a fibrous bursal capsule was first evident at 160 days fetal age, thereafter increasing in both thickness and density. Ligaments of the navicular bone were found to develop early in fetal life. At 100 days the collateral sesamoidean ligaments were well developed; however earliest evidence of formation of the distal navicular ligament was at 120 days. In both the fetus and the adult the proximal blood supply to the navicular bone was found to course dorsally in close proximity to the collateral sesamoidean ligament to enter the proximal border of the navicular bone. Concurrent with weight bearing there was a dorsal palmar orientation of the bone trabeculae of the navicular bone. In the young postgestational horses a progressive roughening or fraying of the palmar surface of the navicular bone and the apposing surface of the deep digital flexor tendon was evident.