THE HIND-LTMB. 



49 



(i/) corresponding with the united tuhera iscJiii ; 

 the hinder border^ which is nnited below with the 

 pubic cartilag-e, is curved. 



3. The pubes, os pnhis (Fig-s. 41, 42^ A?i l')- 

 Ossified pubic bones do not exist; even in old 

 animals they are composed of calcified cartilage. 

 Each is a triangular cartilage, wedged between 

 the ilium and ischium, but also taking part 

 in the formation of the acetabulum. The pubes 

 of opposite sides are, as shown in section in 

 Fig. 43, united by ligaments in the median 

 plane. 



B. Bones op the Hind-Limb. 



Fig- 43- 



Horizontal section 

 through tlie iliac, 

 pubic, and ischiatic 

 bones. 



a Acetabulum. 



U nium. 



is Ischium. 



p Pubic cartilage. 



s Ijigaments which 

 unite tlie bones of 

 opi>osite sides. 



1. The thigh. 



The femur, o-s* femoris (Fig. 44). The shaft is cylindrical, 

 with a slight double or S-shaped curve. In the Fig. 44. 



anterior portion the convexity is directed upwards, 

 in the two hinder thirds downwards. Towards 

 the hinder extremity it is flattened from above 

 downwards. The anterior extremity is a rounded 

 articular head placed directly on the shaft like 

 that of the humerus. This head is somewhat flat- 

 tened from side to side ; and in stracture resembles 

 that of the humerus. The inferior extremity is 

 rounded below, biit flattened above (towards the 

 hollow of the knee) and behind. 



Hip-joint. The articular cavity is deepened by 

 a fibrous ring, lahrnm caHilagineum, which fits 

 closely upon the caput femoris ; from this tatjrum, the 

 joint-capsule arises, to be inserted behind the head ; 

 close to the lower border of the cavity a ti/ja- 

 weutum teres arises, which is inserted into the cap?/t 

 femoris. 



2. The leg. 

 Tibio - fibula, os cruris (Fig. 45). This 

 consists of a single bone, the os cruris ; it is 

 often called the tilAa, but presents, however, dis- 

 tinct indications of being formed of two bones, 

 the titjia and fijula. The shaft is not quite 

 straight; it is thinner in the middle and flattened p Posterior extremity 



E 



Femur of liana escu- 

 litita, right side,twice 

 nat. size. 



a Anterior extremity. 



