370 



HUMAN ANATOMY. 



Striking examples of this are generally artificial productions. The beginning of 

 the ilio-femoral ligament covers the outer part of the head. The capsule is much 

 thinner over the inner part of the head, and is covered by the bursa under the ilio- 

 psoas, which often communicates with the joint. The pubo-femoral liga- 

 ment* (Fig- 385) is a slender band of fibres, thickening the under side of the 

 capsule, extending from the lowest point of the capsular insertion on the spiral 

 line to the outer end of the obturator crest. It is rarely very evident. The 

 ischio-femoral ligament^ (Fig- 387) is a strong but ill-defined bundle at the back 

 of the joint, extending from the ischial origin of the capsule to the top of the digital 

 fossa. The capsule is further supported by muscles and by bands of fibrous tissue, 

 generally expansions from tendons or fasciae. Morris describes a band on the upper 



• Fig. 386. 



Cotyloid ligameni 



Capsule 



Fat in acetabular 



fossa 



'Pj-^' — Round ligament 



Obturator membrane 



Frontal section through right hip-joint. The femur has been allowed to fall from the socket. 



anterior aspect, passing between the reflected tendon of the rectus and the highest 

 origin of the vastus externus, which is sometimes very strong, but, in our opinion, 

 inconstant. The relation of the ilio-psoas has been mentioned. Fibres are received 

 at the upper outer part from the gluteus minimus. The obturator internus and the 

 gemelli are close against it behind, and the obturator externus behind and below. 

 We have seen a tendinous band beneath the tendon of the obturator internus quite 

 distinct from the capsule internally and fused with it externally. It may have been 

 a reduplication of that muscle or an extra ischio-fetnoral ligament. ^ 



The round ligament {ligamentum teres) (Figs. 384, 389) is a weak band 

 of fibrous tissue, containing vessels and nerves, surrounded by synovial membrane, 

 lying under the fat in the deep non-articular hollow of the socket, connecting the 



^Journal of Anatomy and Physiology, vol. viii., 1874. 



' Lig. pubocapsnlare 'Lig. ischiocapsulare. 



