=The Tarsus.=--The articulations between the separate bones of the tarsus and between the tarsus and metatarsus have a considerable number of variously communicating articular capsules. The separate bones are connected by many ligaments. The ligaments of the ventral surface (=ligamenta plantaria=) are especially well developed. Here may be noticed particularly a very large =calcaneocuboid= ligament, and a large =calcaneocuneiform= ligament which passes from the sustentaculum tali to the medial cuneiform. Those on the dorsal surface (=ligamenta dorsalia=) are less strong and numerous. Many ligaments, longitudinal, transverse, and oblique, pass also between the separate bones (=ligamenta interossea=). =Ligamenta lateralia=, on the lateral and medial borders of the foot, are also distinguishable. Strauss-Durckheim enumerates ninety-four ligaments of the tarsus; an account of each of these does not form part of the plan of the present work.
The ligaments of the metatarsus and phalanges are of the same general character as in the forelimb. Of these Strauss-Durckheim enumerates thirty-six; they will not be described here.
=M. cutaneus maximus= (Fig. 62, _b_).--This is a very large, thin muscle which covers almost the whole side of the body. It arises from the outer surface of the latissimus dorsi (Fig. 68, _m_) near its ventral end and from the bicipital arch (Fig. 65, _t′_) in the axilla; from the linea alba for a considerable distance (two or three inches) caudad of the base of the xiphoid process, and from the thorax over a line joining the axilla and the base of the xiphoid. Sometimes a few fibres take origin from the fascia which covers the pectoantibrachialis on the ventral side of the arm.
From their origin the fibres diverge. The cranial ones curve about the base of the forelimb and are inserted into the skin at or near the middle line caudad of the first thoracic vertebra. The most cranial fibres of all are inserted about one to one and a half centimeters from the middorsal line; thence the line of insertion approaches the middorsal line to reach it at about the eighth or ninth thoracic vertebra. The middle fibres run parallel to the middorsal line in the lumbar and sacral regions as far as the root of the tail, a small bundle passing onto the dorsal side of the tail, another onto the ventral side. The fibres of the caudal portion pass onto the thigh, the ventral ones running in the fold of skin which stretches from thigh to abdomen, and are finally lost in the fascia along a line connecting the knee and the root of the tail. A strong fascia connects the adjacent borders of the cutaneus and platysma and lies over the scapular region.