302 



HUMAN ANATOMY. 



the humerus is possible. The head of the radius plays on the capitellum, b ^ it 

 follows the ulna. 



The capsular ligament^ surrounding the joint is very weak behind, stronger 

 in front, and very strong at the sides, which last-named parts are usually called 'the 

 lateral ligaments. The anterior fibres arise from the humerus above the coronoid 

 and radial fossae, and from the front of the bases of both condyles. Behi^nd, they 

 arise from about the middle of the olecranon fossa, which is only partly within the 

 capsule. Transverse fibres bridge it, passing between the highest points of the 

 borders of the trochlea. Below this the posterior fibres arise beyond these border^, 

 so that the trochlea is included in the joint, ^t the sides the iibres forming the 

 so-called lateral ligaments radiate from points below the tips of the condyles. A 

 little of the external and a large part of the internal condyle are not enclosed. The 



Fig. 317. 



Band strengthening front of 

 capsule 



Pibres of orbicular ligament 

 Thin part of capsule 



Bursa for tendon of biceps 



Radius 



Internal condyle of humerus 



Cut tendon of biceps 

 Oblique ligament 



Capsule of right elbovv-joint from before. 



capsule is inserted below, posteriorly, into the little groove described with the bone 

 at the border of the olecranon. The radiating fibres from the external condyle are 

 inserted into the surface of the orbicular ligament, behind, outside, and in front. 

 They are covered by tendinous fibres of the muscles from the condyle, which are 

 almost inseparable from them, and which greatly strengthen the joint. The fibres 

 radiating from the tip of the inner condyle, or the internal lateral ligament,'^ are in 

 two layers. The posterior, the deeper, is attached to the side of the olecranon ; 

 the anterior is a strong band passing to the side of the coronoid process, which sends 

 fibres backward, overlapping the deeper layer. The anterior fibres go to the 

 orbicular ligament and to the coronoid process near its edge. The front part of the 

 capsule is strengthened by delicate oblique fibres from the front of the internal con- 

 dyle, passing downward and outward. Masses of fat, incorporated in the capsule 

 both before and behind, project into the joint, carrying the synovial membrane before 



iQapsula articularls. -Lig. collaterale iilnare. 



