Tarsal Pads Revealing Paws

Glossary

Pad

Cushion-like part of animal foot.

The tough, superficial cutis (outer layer of skin) of the pad is keratinized and hairless. Under the cutis is the thick subcutis.

The fatty (adipose) tissue of the subcutis provides a cushion to absorb shock during locomotion.

Tarsus

The joint and bones of an animal’s hind limb that correspond to the human ankle.

Also known as the hock.

Tarsus of Dog

Pastern

The metacarpal region of the forelimb or the metatarsal region of the hind limb.

Pastern of Domestic Dog

Register

To imprint a track on the substrate.

Lion Registers Paw

Down in Pastern

Structural weakness causing the pasterns to slant at an excessively horizontal angle, or to bend excessively when weight is borne.

At its extreme, being down in pastern is to stand or move on pasterns, as well as toes.

Metacarpal Pad

The limb pad located at the metacarpophalangeal joint. This is the largest of the pads on the palmar surface of the forefeet of cats and dogs.

Also known as palmar pad.

Metacarpal Pad

The limb pad located at the metacarpophalangeal joint.

This is the largest of the pads on the palmar surface of the forefeet of cats and dogs.

Also known as palmar pad.

Metatarsal Pad

Limb pad located at the metatarsophalangeal joint.

This is the largest of the pads on the plantar surface of the hind feet of dogs and cats.

Also known as plantar pad.

Heel Pad

Limb pad located at the metacarpophalangeal joint or the metatarsophalangeal joint.

This is the largest of the pads on the palmar or plantar surface of the feet of dogs and cats.

hover over shaded words to reveal more

Tarsal Pads

Limb pads located at the tarsus. Not common.

Tarsal pads of cats and dogs do not usually contact the ground, because they are elevated by the pastern.

Therefore, tarsal pads do not usually register in tracks of cats and dogs. Exceptions to this rule include tracks made in very soft substrates, or tracks made by cats or dogs that are down in pastern.

This should not be confused with the term heel pad, which is conventionally used by trackers and pet associations to refer to the metacarpal pad or the metatarsal pad, as opposed to the pad at the tarsus (which is also known as the heel).

Revealing Paws

dogs' and cats' paws and tracks

Pad

Tarsus

Pastern

Register

Down in Pastern

Metacarpal Pad

Metacarpal Pad

Metatarsal Pad

Heel Pad

hover over shaded words to reveal more

Tarsal Pads

Limb pads located at the tarsus. Not common.

Tarsal pads of cats and dogs do not usually contact the ground, because they are elevated by the pastern.

Therefore, tarsal pads do not usually register in tracks of cats and dogs. Exceptions to this rule include tracks made in very soft substrates, or tracks made by cats or dogs that are down in pastern.

This should not be confused with the term heel pad, which is conventionally used by trackers and pet associations to refer to the metacarpal pad or the metatarsal pad, as opposed to the pad at the tarsus (which is also known as the heel).

Also known as proximal pads.

Cf. carpal pads