THE nir-JoiNT. 105 



side to side, so as to render the circumfereucc complete, and deeper 

 transverse fibres are superadded, from -which circumstance, as well as 

 from being stretched across from one margin of the notch to tiie other, 

 this part is called the transverse ligament. Beneath it an interval is 

 left for the admission of the articular vessels. 



The interarticular or round ligament (ligamentnm teres) is a strong 

 fasciculus surrounded by synovial membrane, implanted by one extremity, 

 which is round, into the fossa in the head of the femur ; by the other, 

 which is broad, flat, and bifid, ijito^the margins of the cotyloid notch, 

 where its fibj:fis_ become blended witB' those of the transverse ligament. 

 It rests on the fat in the depression of the acetabulum. 



The capsular ligament or membrane surrounding the joint is 

 attached superiorly to the margin of the cotyloid cavity, and inferiorly 

 to the neck of the femur. At its cotyloid attachment the capsule arises, 

 above and behind, from the bony margin outside the attachment 

 of the cotyloid ligament, having its inner surface in close contact 

 with that ligament ; in front it arises, from the outer aspect of the 

 cotyloid ligament near its base, and at the notch it is similarly attached 

 to the transverse ligament. At its femoral attachment the capsule 

 extends antei'iorly to the intertrochanteric line, su perio rly to the .root 

 of the great troclianter, posteriorly and interiorly to the junction of the 

 middle and external thirds of the neck. The fibres of which the cap- 

 sule consists run in two directions, circularly and longitudinally. The 

 circular fibres arc found in the niiddTe'of the lower wall of the capsule, 

 gathered into a thick broad \)dXi([\Zona orhievJaris, Ilenle,) which as it 

 extends upwards spreads out so as to form a tolerably even laj-er over 

 the front and upper part of the joint. Behind, these fibres again form 

 a band which for about a finger's breadth next the neck of the femur 

 complete the capsule. The circular fibres are embedded to some extent 

 in the longitudinal fibres, except posteriorly, where the latter are almost 

 absent, being represented by a few scattered fibres which support the 

 synovial membrane, and attach the circular fibres to the neck of the bone. 

 In other parts of the capsule the longitudinal fibres form thick bands, 

 certain of which from their greater size and strength are distinguished 

 as accessory ligaments. The chief of these are formed on the anterior and 

 superior aspects of the capsule. The ilio-femoral ligament consists of 

 two diverging bands of fibres, which arise'^'om the anterior inferior 

 iliac spine, and pass ol)liquely downwards over the front of the joint. 

 The inner of these bands passes almost vertically to the root of the 



jmall trochanter ; the outer to the upper end of the anterior inter- 

 trochanteric line. In the triangular space thus left between the bands, 

 the deeper fibres of the capsule are seen. On the superior aspect of the 

 joint the outer band of the ilio-femoral ligament is joined by another 

 band of fibres {ilio-troclianlcric) which is attached to the ilium, above 

 the origin of the long head of the rectus femoris muscle, and to the 



^qot of the great trochanter on its anterior aspect. To the under 

 surface of the capsule, a broad and strong band of filjres (ischio-capstdar) 

 passes from the furrow on the ischium below the acetabulum to end in 

 the circularfibres. In front and below may be also found a number of 

 scattered fibrous bundles, which converge to the capsule from the ilio- 

 pectineal eminence, from the margin of the obturator foramen, and from 

 the obturator membrane, and to which Henle has given the name of 

 pubo-fcmoral ligament. Besides these the capsule receives other strength- 



