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Updated: Nov 13, 2025
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Construction of a Realistic, Whole-Body, Three-Dimensional Equine Skeletal Model using Computed Tomography Data
Published on: February 25, 2021
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The equine navicular apparatus as a premier enthesis organ: Functional implications
Michelle L Osborn1, Jean Luc Cornille2, Uriel Blas-Machado3
1Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.
Veterinary Surgery : VS
|March 12, 2021
Summary
Navicular syndrome in horses involves degeneration of the navicular bone and surrounding soft tissues. Viewing the equine navicular apparatus as an enthesis organ clarifies diagnosis and guides new therapies.
Area of Science:
- Equine Podiatry
- Comparative Anatomy
- Biomechanical Engineering
Background:
- Navicular syndrome traditionally focuses on navicular bone degeneration, but imaging reveals soft tissue involvement.
- The equine navicular apparatus shares structural adaptations with the human Achilles tendon complex for dissipating mechanical stress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To re-conceptualize the equine navicular apparatus as an enthesis organ.
- To explain lesion distribution in navicular syndrome through mechanical stress dissemination.
- To explore therapeutic implications based on enthesis organ degeneration.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of equine navicular apparatus and human Achilles tendon complex.
- Review of imaging techniques and lesion distribution.
- Functional and anatomical cross-species comparison.
Main Results:
- The equine navicular apparatus functions as an enthesis organ, distributing mechanical forces.
- Failure of this enthesis organ is linked to navicular syndrome lesions.
- Degeneration can be viewed as a form of chronic osteoarthritis.
Conclusions:
- Conceptualizing the navicular apparatus as an enthesis organ resolves diagnostic confusion.
- Mechanically based therapies focusing on whole-body posture and motion are proposed.
- Cross-species functional comparisons offer valuable insights for equine foot health.
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