pododerm

The horn-producing membrane, or "quick," as it is commonly termed, is merely a downward prolongation of the "derm," or true skin, and may be conveniently called the pododerm (foot skin).

Special Report on Diseases of the Horse Charles B. Michener 1877

The frog, secreted by the pododerm covering the plantar cushion or fatty frog, and presenting almost the same form as the latter, lies as a soft and very elastic wedge between the bars and between the edges of the sole just in front of the bars.

Special Report on Diseases of the Horse Charles B. Michener 1877

The functions of the pododerm are to produce the hoof and to unite it firmly to the foot.

Special Report on Diseases of the Horse Charles B. Michener 1877

All parts of the hoof grow downward and forward with equal rapidity, the rate of growth being largely dependent upon the amount of blood supplied to the pododerm, or "quick."

Special Report on Diseases of the Horse Charles B. Michener 1877

If this mistake be repeated from month to month, the part of the wall left too high will grow more rapidly than the low side whose pododerm is relatively anemic as a result of the greater weight falling into this half of the hoof, and the ultimate result will be a "wry," or crooked foot.

Special Report on Diseases of the Horse Charles B. Michener 1877

The pododerm closely invests the coffin bone, lateral cartilages, and plantar cushion, much as a sock covers the human foot, and is itself covered by the horny capsule, or hoof.

Special Report on Diseases of the Horse Charles B. Michener 1877

"Corns," or bruises of the pododerm, are usually a result of leaving a thick mass of dry, unyielding horn at this point.

Special Report on Diseases of the Horse Charles B. Michener 1877

There are five parts of the pododerm, easily distinguishable when the hoof has been removed, namely: (1) The perioplic band, a narrow ridge from one-sixteenth to one-eighth of an inch wide, running along the edge of the hair from one heel around the toe to the other.

Special Report on Diseases of the Horse Charles B. Michener 1877

Abundant and regular exercise, good grooming, moistness and suppleness of the hoof, going barefoot, plenty of good feed, and at proper intervals removing the overgrowth of hoof and regulating the bearing surface, by increasing the volume and improving the quality of the blood flowing into the pododerm, favor the rapid growth of horn of good quality; while lack of exercise, dryness of the horn, and excessive length of the hoof hinder growth.

Special Report on Diseases of the Horse Charles B. Michener 1877

(epiderm), which protect the sensitive and vascular derm, so, likewise, in the foot the pododerm produces over its entire surface soft cells, which, pushed away by more recent cells forming beneath, lose moisture by evaporation and are rapidly transformed into the corneous material which we call the hoof.

Special Report on Diseases of the Horse Charles B. Michener 1877