The Hoof
Equine thoracic limb
Stashak
Equine foot
Banks
Equine foot
Banks
Hoof - Epidermis




Wall
Bars
Sole
Frog
Stashak Fig. 1.4
Hoof
Epidermis (orange)
Dermis (green)
Hoof - Epidermis
Bacha & Bacha Fig. 12.71
Stashak Fig. 1.4
Hoof - Epidermis




Hoof wall
Bars
Sole
Frog
Equine hoof wall
Hoof wall


Perioplic epidermis = stratum externum, stratum
tectorium
Coronary epidermis = stratum medium, tubular
epidermis


Tubular and intertubular horn
Laminar epidermis = stratum lamellatum


Non-tubular horn
Fuses to stratum medium and connects wall to dermis
epidermis
Hoof
Figure 34. Junction of epidermis
and hoof, 6X. The figure shows
the area of the periople; this is the
region of the epidermis that gives
rise to the stratum externum.
Distal to the periople is the
coronary region; this is the region
where the stratum germinativum of
the epidermis gives rise to the
tubular and intertubular horns of
the stratum medium. The
coronary region is seen at higher
magnifications in the figure that
follows.
periople
stratum
externum
epidermis at
coronary region
coronary corium
Hoof wall



Perioplic epidermis,
stratum externum
Coronary epidermis,
stratum medium
Laminar epidermis,
stratum lamellatum
Stashak Fig. 1.5
Coronary epidermis, stratum
medium


Tubular horn
Intertubular horn
Hoof
stratum externum
stratum medium
stratum internum
dermis (corium)
Figure 28. Cross section of the wall of equine hoof, 6X. Section was taken from
a young horse. The hoof is the horny epidermal covering of the distal end of the
digit; it is composed of dead keratinized cells. The wall of the hoof, on cross
section, shows a stratum externum (external layer), a stratum medium (middle
layer), and a stratum internum (internal layer). An area similar to that in the inset
is seen at higher magnifications in the figures that follow.
Hoof
stratum externum
stratum medium
tubular horn
intertubular horn
Figure 29. Equine hoof, cross section. 20X. The figure shows the stratum
externum and stratum medium. The stratum externum (stratum tectorium) is
a thin layer of flat keratinized cells. The stratum medium comprises the bulk
of the wall and is composed of tubular horn and intertubular horn. The inset
is seen at higher magnifications in the next figures.
Hoof
A
tubular horn
Figure 30 A-B. Stratum medium of
hoof wall. A-50X, B-200X. The
stratum medium is composed of
tubular and intertubular horns. The
inset in Figure A shows a tubular horn
which is magnified in Figure B. The
tubular horn is composed of spirally
arranged cells that do not cornify
(keratinize) as completely as those of
the intertubular horn and they stain
more intensely (basophilic). The
intertubular horn is composed of flat
keratinized layers of cells.
intertubular horn
B
Stratum medium – tubular and
intertubular horn
Stratum lamellatum


Primary laminae
Secondary lamina
Equine hoof wall
Primary and secondary epidermal
laminae
Hoof
stratum externum
stratum medium
stratum internum
dermis (corium)
Figure 28. Cross section of the wall of equine hoof, 6X. Section was taken from
a young horse. The hoof is the horny epidermal covering of the distal end of the
digit; it is composed of dead keratinized cells. The wall of the hoof, on cross
section, shows a stratum externum (external layer), a stratum medium (middle
layer), and a stratum internum (internal layer). An area similar to that in the inset
is seen at higher magnifications in the figures that follow.
Hoof
primary laminae
secondary laminae
laminar corium
Figure 31. Stratum internum of hoof wall. 20X. The stratum internum
(stratum lamellatum) is composed of several primary laminae, each of
which bears several secondary laminae. The vascular connective tissue
between the laminae is the laminar corium (dermis).
Hoof
Figure 32 A-B. Stratum internum of
hoof wall. A-50X, B-200X. Figure A
shows primary laminae with several
secondary laminae. The laminae are
seen at high magnification in Figure B.
The primary lamina is composed of
dead keratinized cells. The secondary
laminae are composed of living cells of
the stratum germinativum of the
epidermis.
A
primary laminae
secondary
laminae
blood
vessel
laminar corium
B
blood
vessel
primary
lamina
secondary
laminae
Bacha & Bacha
Primary and secondary laminae,
equine hoof
Epidermis

Bars, sole, frog


Epidermis is similar to tubular regions of wall
Horn material is softer than wall
P1
Hoof
epidermis
DDF
epidermis
P2
dermis
dermis
Figure 37. Sagittal section of equine
foot. 2X. This is the same section in
Figure 33 and is being shown for
orientation purpose. The figures that
follow will show the region of the
hoof sole (inset).
ds
coronary
corium
DC
P3
(Stratum germinativum of
epidermis is located here)
sole of hoof
wall of
hoof
Hoof
A
B
dermal papillae
osseous tissue
of P3
sole corium
sole epidermis
sole of hoof
Figure 38A-B. Region of the sole of hoof. A-6X, B-20X. The structure of the sole is
similar to that seen in the coronary region. Notice the dermal papilla extending
downward into the epidermis of the sole. The epidermal cells will produce tubular
and intertubular horns similar to those seen in the stratum medium of the hoof wall.
Hoof
Dermis (green)
Dermis (corium)

Perioplic corium



Coronary corium

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
Papillae are perpendicular to ground
Nourishes stratum externum
Papillae are perpendicular to ground
Nourishes stratum medium
Laminar corium



Primary and secondary laminae instead of papillae
Laminae are perpendicular to ground
Nourishes stratum lamellatum
Papillae of the coronary corium
Corium of the Foot

Corium





Continuation of the skin
Contains elastic fibers and extensive venous plexus
Intimately associated with periosteum of bones in
foot
Frog corium contains modified merocrine sweat
glands
Digital cushion


Fibroelastic connective tissue
Acts as a shock absorber
Laminae

Sensitive lamina



Secondary epidermal lamina with nerve
endings and germinal epithelium
Primary and secondary laminar corium
Insensitive lamina

Primary epidermal lamina – cornified material
Desmosomes
Stratum lamellatum, sheep hoof
Nails, Claws and Hooves
Dog Claw
Banks
Dog Claw
Dellman Fig. 16.41
Dog Claw
Aughey & Frye
Dog Claw
Aughey & Frye