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Multiple Choice

The origin of the suspensory ligament is where?

The suspensory ligament is the main support for the fetlock, helping prevent overextension as the horse bears weight. Its fibers originate from the upper end of the coffin bone, giving it a strong proximal anchor right where the limb loads transfer into the fetlock. From that point it runs back along the leg to insert on the proximal sesamoid bones behind the fetlock, so that when the fetlock tends to drop forward, the ligament tightens and helps pull the joint back into a stable alignment. This origin at the upper coffin bone makes it the best description of where the ligament starts, rather than arising from the knee or pastern, and it isn’t described as originating directly at the fetlock joint itself.

The suspensory ligament is the main support for the fetlock, helping prevent overextension as the horse bears weight. Its fibers originate from the upper end of the coffin bone, giving it a strong proximal anchor right where the limb loads transfer into the fetlock. From that point it runs back along the leg to insert on the proximal sesamoid bones behind the fetlock, so that when the fetlock tends to drop forward, the ligament tightens and helps pull the joint back into a stable alignment. This origin at the upper coffin bone makes it the best description of where the ligament starts, rather than arising from the knee or pastern, and it isn’t described as originating directly at the fetlock joint itself.