Hock (anatomy)

Diagram showing the location of the hock.

The hock, tarsus or uncommonly gambrel, is the region formed by the tarsal bones connecting the tibia and metatarsus of a digitigrade or unguligrade quadrupedal mammal, such as a horse, cat, or dog. This joint may include articulations between tarsal bones and the fibula in some species (such as cats), while in others the fibula has been greatly reduced and is only found as a vestigial remnant fused to the distal portion of the tibia (as in horses).^[1] It is the anatomical homologue of the ankle of the human foot. While homologous joints occur in other tetrapods, the term is generally restricted to mammals, particularly long-legged domesticated species.

^ Budras, Klaus-Dieter; Sack, W. O.; Röck, Sabine (2009). Anatomy of the Horse (PDF) (5th ed.). Hannover, Germany: Schlütersche Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG. p. 131. ISBN 978-3-89993-044-3. Retrieved 20 June 2024.

[1] Budras, Klaus-Dieter; Sack, W. O.; Röck, Sabine (2009). Anatomy of the Horse (PDF) (5th ed.). Hannover, Germany: Schlütersche Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG. p. 131. ISBN 978-3-89993-044-3. Retrieved 20 June 2024.

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