Coffin bone

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title: "Coffin bone" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["horse-anatomy", "equine-hoof"] description: "Bone in the hoof of hoofed animals" topic_path: "science/biology" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffin_bone" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Bone in the hoof of hoofed animals ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/Hufbein-Pferd.jpg" caption="A coffin bone"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/38/Coffin_bone_and_horseshoe.jpg" caption="coffin bone shown in relationship to a horseshoe"] ::

The coffin bone, also known as the pedal bone (U.S.), is the distal phalanx, the bottommost bone in the front and rear legs of horses, cattle, pigs and other ruminants. It is encased by the hoof capsule. In horses and other odd-toed ungulates it is the third phalanx, or "P3"; in even-toed ungulates such as cattle, it is the third and fourth (P3 and P4). The coffin bone meets the short pastern bone or second phalanx at the coffin joint. The coffin bone is connected to the inner wall of the horse hoof by a structure called the laminar layer. The insensitive laminae coming in from the hoof wall connects to the sensitive laminae layer, containing the blood supply and nerves, which is attached to the coffin bone.

Despite the protection provided by the hoof, the coffin bone can be injured and fractured. For example, inflammatory conditions such as laminitis may lead to rotation of the coffin bone and associated permanent damage due to the coffin bone pulling away from the hoof wall as the laminar layer tears apart. Contracted heels can also affect the shape of the coffin bone, making it grow away from its normal, healthy shape. X-rays can diagnose injury, determine the position of the bone, and verify the type of damage that may have been received. Once injured, remedial shoeing can help protect the coffin bone from further trauma. Treatment of assorted disorders may also involve use of shoe pads, anti-inflammatory medication, and management changes.

Notes

References

• {{cite book | title = The Complete Performance Horse: Feeding, Fitness, Lameness, Preventive Medicine | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=nzSLpxLqetUC | first = Colin | last = Vogel | publisher = David & Charles | location = Cincinnati, Ohio | year = 2006 | page = 217 | isbn = 0-7153-2307-5

References

1. Milligan, Doug. (2011). "Hoof anatomy and physiology [class handout]".
2. Thomas, Heather. "Coffin bone fractures". Racing Horse Journal.
3. Vogel (2006), p 189

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