168 



ARTICULATIONS OF THE LOWER LIMB. 



the tibia. Between the tibia and the ligament, near its insertion, is 

 placed a synovial bursa. If the patella be considered a sesamoid bone, 

 this ligament mny be regarded as part of the tendon of the rectus 

 femoris muscle. 



The crucial ligaments, ])]aced in the centre of the joint, pass from 

 the sides of the intercondylar fossa to the spaces in front of and 

 behind the spine of the tibia. They decussate somewhat like the lines 

 of the letter X. The anterior or external ligament is fixed by its lower 



Fiff. 150. 





Fig. 150, A. — The Knee-Joint, opened prom before, to show the Crucial Liga- 

 ments AND Semilunar Cartilages. (A. T.) J 



1, external, and 2, internal semilunar cartilage ; 3, on flie obiter condylar surface of 

 tlie femur, points to tlie anterior crucial ligament ; 4, placed on the elevated line separat- 

 ing the patellar from the inner condylar surface of the femur, jjoints to the posterior 

 crucial ligament ; 5, transverse ligament of the semilunar cartilages ; (J, i)art of the 

 ligamentum patella3 ; 7, on the head of the fibula, points to the superior anterior tihio- 

 fibular ligament ; 8, ui)per part of the interosseous membrane, showing the perforation 

 for the anterior tibial artery. 



Fig. 150, B.— The Knee-Joint, opened from behind, so as to expose the Crucial 

 Ligaments and Semilunar Cartilages. (A. T.) ^ 



1, internal semilunar cartilage ; 2, external semilunar cartilage ; 3, anterior crucial 

 ligament ; 4, posterior crucial ligament : farther uj' is seen its accessory band joining the 

 external semilunar cartilage ; 8, upper part of the interosseous membrane ; 9, internal 

 lateral ligament ; 10, jilaced on the head of the fibula, ])oints to the iwsterior superior 

 tibio-fibular ligament ; between the head of the fibula and the external semilunar cartilage 

 (2) is seen the synovial surface of the tibia, upon which the semilunar cartilage descends 

 in flexion, and where a communication sometimes takes jilace between the .synovial 

 cavities of the knee-joint and the tibio-fibular articulation. 



extremity to the inner part of the pit before the spine of the tibia, and 

 by its upper extremity it is inserted into the inner and hinder part of 

 the external condyle of the femur ; hence its direction is upwards, 

 backwards, and outwards. The posterior or internal ligament is at- 



