Foot pain is a frequent cause of lameness in horses and can involve multiple structures within the hoof. The T-ligament (an anatomical structure connecting the synovium of the distal interphalangeal joint, the digital flexor tendon sheath and the navicular bursa) is poorly described.

Five pairs of equine cadaver distal forelimbs were collected from a slaughterhouse. Sagittal sections (medial, middle and lateral) were obtained and processed with Haematoxylin Eosin Safran, Unna's Orcein, and Picrosirius red stains.

Histological assessment revealed that the T-ligament was covered by the surrounding synovia of the distal interphalangeal joint, the digital flexor tendon sheath and the navicular bursa. Its collagen content was lower (30.01%±10.15) than that of the collateral sesamoidean ligament (89.48%±5.8; P = .0008) and the middle phalanx (85.72%±3.67; P = .0008). Under polarized light microscopy, it showed a slight heterogeneous pattern of birefringence, with angle-related changes. Elastic fibres were more numerous (21.76%±8.72) than in the collateral sesamoidean ligament (0.28%±0.45), or deep digital flexor tendon (0.04%±0.02); and were more densely packed. Mean cell count was higher for the T-ligament than for other tissues (P = .0007). Blood vessels were identified in the T-ligament and were penetrating the deep digital flexor tendon (8/10 limbs, 5/5 horses).

In conclusion, the T-ligament looked like a vinculum for the deep digital flexor tendon, with a central elastic core, surrounding loose connective tissue and blood vessels. It is not a ligament. Its clinical relevance still needs to be determined.

足部疼痛是导致马la腿的常见原因，并且可能涉及蹄内的多种结构。T韧带（连接远端指间关节的滑膜，指屈肌腱鞘和舟状滑囊的解剖结构）的描述不充分。

从屠宰场收集了五对马尸体前肢。获得矢状切面（内侧，中部和外侧），并用苏木精曙红番红花，Unna's Orcein和Picrosirius红染色处理。

组织学评估显示，T韧带被远端指间关节的滑膜，指状屈肌腱鞘和舟状滑囊所覆盖。它的胶原蛋白含量比芝麻叶侧副韧带（89.48％±5.8; P  = .0008）和中指骨（85.72％±3.67; P = .0008）低（30.01％±10.15 ）。在偏光显微镜下，它显示出双折射的轻微异质性模式，与角度相关。弹性纤维数量较多（21.76％±8.72），多于芝麻芝麻侧副韧带（0.28％±0.45）或深指屈肌腱（0.04％±0.02）；并且包装得更加密集。T结扎的平均细胞计数高于其他组织（P = .0007）。在T韧带中发现了血管，并穿透了深指屈肌腱（8/10肢体，5/5马）。

总之，T韧带看起来像是深指屈肌腱的小梁，具有中央弹性核，围绕着疏松的结缔组织和血管。这不是韧带。其临床相关性仍需确定。