What Is a Cannon Bone on a Horse?

The cannon bone is the third metacarpal or third long bone in the foreleg of a horse, donkey, or zebra. It is the homologue of the human third metacarpal bone.The function of the cannon bone is to transmit the weight of the body from the fetlock to the hoof. In doing so, it also protects the tendons of the leg. The cannon bone is the bone between the knee and the fetlock. It is the longest bone in the horse's leg and is also the heaviest. It is round in cross-section and tapers slightly from the fetlock joint to the hoof. The front surface of the cannon bone is concave and the back surface is flat. The cannon bone articulates with the radius and ulna at the elbow joint and with the third metacarpal bone at the fetlock joint. The cannon bone is covered by a layer of dense connective tissue, the periosteum, which is thickest at the ends of the bone. Underneath the periosteum is a layer of cancellous bone, which is trabecular or spongy in structure. The bone marrow is found in the cancellous bone. The periosteum of the cannon bone is attached to the ligaments and tendons of the leg. These structures attach the cannon bone to the surrounding bones and muscles and help to stabilize the limb. The cannon bone is a long bone and has a number of features that are characteristic of long bones. These features include a shaft, two processes (the greater and lesser trochanters), and two articulation sites (the elbow and fetlock joints). The shaft of the cannon bone is cylindrical in shape and tapers slightly from the fetlock joint to the hoof. It is widest at the elbow joint and narrowest at the fetlock joint. The shaft is covered in a layer of compact bone, which is dense and strong. The trochanters are protrusions on the shaft of the cannon bone. The greater trochanter is located at the proximal (upper) end of the bone and the lesser trochanter is located at the distal (lower) end. The trochanters provide attachment sites for muscles and ligaments. The cannon bone has two articular surfaces, which are the surfaces that come into contact with other bones. The first articular surface

A typical cannon bone measures approximately six inches in length and one and a half inches in width. The cannon bone is a long, slender bone that is located between the knee and the fetlock joint (ankle) of the horse. It is one of the four major bones of the horse's lower leg and is responsible for transmitting the majority of the horse's weight and ground forces to the hoof. Additionally, the cannon bone provides attachment sites for muscles, tendons, and ligaments of the lower leg.

You can tell if a horse has a healthy cannon bone by looking at the structure and quality of the bone. The cannon bone should be a strong, straight bone with no visible defects. The surface of the bone should be smooth and there should be no evidence of any abnormalities.

Cannon bones are the long bones in a horse’s leg, and problems with them are not uncommon. The most common problems are fractures, arthritis, and deformities.

Fractures are the most common problem with cannon bones. They can occur from trauma, such as a fall or a kick from another horse, or from repetitive stress, such as from racing or jumping. Arthritis is also a common problem, especially in older horses. It can be caused by trauma, infection, or simply the wear and tear of age. Deformities of the cannon bone are less common, but can be seen in some conditions, such as club foot or founder.

The most important thing you can do to help prevent problems with cannon bones is to have your horse’s legs checked regularly by a veterinarian or qualified farrier. This will allow any problems to be detected early and treated before they become serious.