212 



ANATOMY OF THE RABBIT 



diately above the condyles, on the anterior surface of the bone, 

 the intercondyloid fossa is replaced by a broad groove, the patellar 

 surface (facies patellaris), which, in the natural condition, accom- 

 modates the convex internal surface of the patella. The medial 

 and lateral portions of the bone, intervening between the distal 

 portion of the patellar surface and the tips of the condyles, provide 

 slightly elevated, roughened surfaces, the medial and lateral epi- 

 condyles, for muscular attachment. 



The Tibia and Fibula 

 The tibia (Fig. 97) is the larger of 

 the two bones of the leg, lying on the 

 medial side of the fibula, and fused with 

 the latter, in the rabbit, for more than 

 one-half of its length. Its proximal ex- 

 tremity is triangular in section, the main 

 surfaces being respectively anterolateral, 

 anteromedial, and posterior. The ante- 

 rior border is formed by a stout, ridge- 

 like elevation, the tuberosity of the 

 tibia (tuberositas tibiae), which in the 

 natural condition serves for the in- 

 sertion of the quadriceps femoris, the 

 extensor tendon by which this group 

 of muscles is inserted being carried over 

 the knee by the patella and the patellar 

 ligament. The articular portion is 

 slightly differentiated into medial and 

 lateral condyles corresponding to those 

 of the distal end of the femur. On the 

 articular surface, the concave areas for 

 the reception of the condyles of the 

 femur are separated from one another 



by a small intervening, partly divided SV'afd 'S/T^t/raf fid' mSli 

 hillock, the intercondyloid eminence 

 (eminentia intercondyloidea), and also 

 posteriorly by a depression of the articu- 

 lar border, the posterior intercondyloid fossa 



condyles; f.a.s., proximal artic- 

 ular surface for the femur; m.l. 

 and m.m., lateral and medial 

 malleoli; t.t., tuberosity of tibia. 



A corresponding 



