238 ZOOTOMY. 



115. The patella, a small nodule of bone in front of 

 the knee-joint, connected by ligament with the femur and 

 tibio-tarsus. 



1 1 6. The fibula, a slender bony rod attached to the outer 

 (post-axial) side of the tibio-tarsus : its proximal end articu- 

 lates with the fibular fossa in the outer condyle of the femur : 

 distally it undergoes a gradual diminution in diameter and 

 finally fuses with the tibio-tarsus. 



117. The tarso-metarsus, a cylindrical bone articulated 

 to the distal end of the tibio-tarsus, its proximal end bearing 

 two concave surfaces for the condyles of the latter bone : 

 behind (ventrally) it is produced at its proximal end into a 

 strong crest, on either side of which is a small foramen 

 passing through to the somewhat concave anterior face of 

 the bone : its distal end is trifurcate, the middle division 

 being the longest, and each bearing a pulley-like surface 

 for the articulation of one of the toes. That part of the 

 tarso-metatarsus which lies above (proximal to) the two 

 foramina represents the distal tarsals : in the remainder of 

 the bone, the two foramina and trifurcate distal ends indicate 

 a division into three longitudinal parts, the second, third, 

 and fourth metatarsals. The joint between the tibio- 

 tarsus and tarso-metatarsus is conveniently known as the 

 mesotarsal articulation, being between the proximal 

 and distal tarsals. 



1 1 8. In an embryo towards the end of incubation, the 

 proximal extremity of the future tarso-metatarsus is a 

 separate cartilage, the distal tarsal cartilage (Fig. 51, 

 tl.2] and the remainder is formed of three separate long 

 bones, (metatarsals, mtl.2, mtL^ mil. 4), in close contact save 

 at their distal ends. 



119. The hallux, or first pre-axial digit, consisting of a 

 separate metatarsal, united by ligament to the inner border 



