BACKGROUND: As regards the role of the hind limb in propulsion, it is obvious that the tarsus forms a powerful center movement, it begins upon the point of the hock that the powerful extensor muscles which propel the body exert much of their energy. Tarsus injuries of water buffalo are the commonest limb joint disorders. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to an access accurate detailed osteology and radiology of tarsus Khuzestan river buffaloes. METHODS: Ten joints of the five water buffaloes aged approximately two to three years were obtained from Ahvaz abattoir. In addition, the ten normal tarsal joints of five water buffaloes referred to the clinic of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine were examined radiographically. Radiographic examination was performed in dorsoplantar, lateromedial, dorsolateral-plantaromedial oblique and plantarolateral-dorsomedial oblique, and flexed lateral projections. RESULTS: Unlike the dromedary camel, the general configuration of river buffalo tarsal bones and cow shares many similarities; however, there are concrete differences between buffalo and ox on the shape and extension of articular surfaces of tarsal bones. Unlike the ox, the metatarsal sesamoid bone was not noted radiographically in water buffalo, similar to that in horse and dromedary camel. The dorsoplantar view was optimal for the evaluation of articular surfaces and joint spaces of tarsocrural as well as the intratarsal joints. The dorsoplantar view was the best for evaluation of joint spaces of tarsocrural as well as the intratarsal joints, the lateromedial view for talocalcaneal joint, the dorsolateral-plantaromedial view for medial aspect of the tarsocrural joint, and the plantarolateral-dorsomedial view for the plantar aspect of the sustentaculum tali and the lateral trochlea of the talus. CONCLUSIONS: The normal appearance of bony structures of tarsus described in this study provided basic reference data for radiographic investigations of the water buffalo tarsal disorders. ___________________________________

The aim of this study was to produce a simple and inexpensive technique for estimating the obturator foramen area (OFA) from young calves based on the hypothesis that OFA can be extrapolated from simple linear measurements. Three linear measurements - dorsoventral height, craneocaudal width and total perimeter of obturator foramen - were obtained from 55 bovine hemicoxae. Different algorithms for determining OFA were then produced with a regression analysis (curve fitting) and statistical analysis software. The most simple equation was OFA (mm2) = [3,150.538 + (36.111*CW)] − [147,856.033/DH] (where CW = craneocaudal width and DH = dorsoventral height, both in mm), representing a good nonlinear model with a standard deviation of error for the estimate of 232.44 and a coefficient of multiple determination of 0.846. This formula may be helpful as a repeatable and easily performed estimation of the obturator foramen area in young bovines. The area of the obturator foramen magnum can thus be estimated using this regression formula.