290 THE ARTICULATIONS OR JOINTS. 
patelle, is a powerful flattened band, attached superiorly to the apex and adjoining 
margins of the patella, and inferiorly to the rough anterior tuberosity at the upper end 
of the shaft of the tibia. This hgament also serves as a tendon of insertion for the 
quadriceps extensor muscle, and a certain number of the fibres of the tendon may 
be observed to descend as a thin fibrous covering for the anterior surface of the 
_-Patellar surface of femur 
_~ Semilunar facet for patella 
Impression of external semi- 
lunar cartilage 
—Internal tibial surface of 
femur 
External tibial surface of 
femur 
Posterior crucial ligament 
| ace 
é ucial lies 
fixternal lateral ligament | Anterior crucial ligament 
External semilunar fibro- | S 
cartilage AN 
Out tendon of biceps flexor \ ‘YW 
\\ i 
\f 
cruris muscle \ 
Anterior superior tibio-fibular 
Transverse ligament 
Internal semilunar fibro- 
cartilage 
Internal lateral ligament 
ligament 
External lateral ligament _\ ‘ 
=Ligamentum patelle 
Opening in interosseous d 
membrane for anterior tibial Inner perpendicular facet on 
vessels patella 
Fia, 223.—DIssEcTION OF THE KNEE-JOINT FROM THE FRONT: PATELLA THROWN DOWN. 
patella. The deep surface of the tendon is separated from the front of the head of — 
the tibia by a synovial bursa, and above this it rests upon the infrapatellar pad of ; 
fat, which is placed between the tendon and the synovial membrane of the joint. : 
The posterior ligament (Fig. 224) is a compound structure of unequal strength, 
and those portions by which it establishes continuity with the lateral parts of the _ 
capsule are remarkably thin. It is attached superiorly to the popliteal surface of 
the femur, close to the intercondyloid notch, with lateral extensions to the non- ; 
articular areas immediately above the posterior articular margins of the two con- _ 
dyles, where it is closely associated with the origins of the gastrocnemius muscle. 
: 
j 
Inferiorly it is attached to the rough non-articular posterior border of the head 
of the tibia, where, to its fibular side, it presents an opening of exit for the tendon 
of the popliteus muscle (Fig. 224). 
_ The tendon of insertion of the semi-membranosus muscle contributes an 
Important expansion which augments the posterior ligament on its superficial 
aspect. This expansion—ligamentum posticum Winslowii—passes obliquely upwards 
and outwards to lose itself in the general ligament, but it is most distinct in the 
region between the femoral condyles, where it may present upper and lower arcuate 
borders. A number of vessels and nerves perforate this ligament, and hence it 
presents a number of apertures. 
The internal lateral ligament (lig. collaterale tibiale, Fig. 223) is a well-defined 
strong flat band which is applied to the inner side of the knee-joint, and is rather 
wider in the middle than at either end. It is frequently regarded as consisting of — 
two portions—an anterior or long portion and a posterior or short one. The two 
parts arise close together from the non-articular inner surface of the inner condyle, 
immediately below the adductor tubercle. The short or posterior portion descends 
slightly backwards, to be attached to the postero-internal aspect of the inner part of 
