Cat dissection: Top: Cranial view of the crus and dorsal view of the pes. The tendon of the cranial tibial m. (1) curves medially at the tarsus to insert on the plantar surface of the metatarsus. The tendon of origin of the long digital extensor m. is isolated by a probe at the femur (asterisk). The branched tendon of insertion is also elevated by a probe. Tendons are bound by crural extensor retinaculum (2) and, more distally, tarsal extensor retinaculum (3).
Bottom: Lateral view of the crus and pes (caudal muscles removed). The fibularis brevis m. (1) is well developed in the cat. Between it and the fibularis longus m. (2), the slender lateral digital extensor m. (3) can be found. Tendons of the long digital extensor m. (4) and cranial tibial m. (5) are bound by crural extensor retinaculum (6) and, more distally, tarsal extensor retinaculum (7). The cranial tibial m. is detached from the tibia (asterisk).