CHAP, iv.] THE SKELETON OF THE LIMBS. 



117 



The external lateral ligament, very strong and distinct (e) passes 

 as a flattened cord from the external tuberosity of the femur to the 

 head of the fibula. 



The posterior ligament (p) is a narrow band extending obliquely 

 upwards from the outer part of the summit of the tibia to the 

 internal condyle of the femur. 



A. B 



Fig. 74. LIGAMENTS, WITH SOME MUSCULAR INSERTIONS, OF THE KNEE-JOINT. 



A. Seen posteriorly. 



B. Seen externally. 



ae. Anterior cracial ligament. 



&. Biceps muscle. 



c. Upper attachment of capsular ligament. 



e. External lateral ligament. 



ed. Extensor longus digitorum. 



g. Gastrocnemius. 



i. Internal lateral ligament. 



Z. Inter-osseous ligament. 

 p. Posterior ligament. 

 pa. Patella. 



pc. Posterior crucial ligament. 

 s. Inter-articular cartilage. 

 sm. Semi-mcmbrcmosus. 

 if. Tibio-fibular ligament. 

 tp. Ligament of the patella towards its inser- 

 tion. 



The ligamentum patellce (tp) is a strong fibrous band proceeding 

 upwards from the anterior tubercle of the tibia to the lower end of 

 the patella. The patella (pa) is supported above by the tendon of 

 the rectus muscle which is inserted into it, and indeed, the liga- 

 mentum patella may be viewed as the inferior termination of that 

 tendon, and the patella itself as a large sesamoid bone. This 

 ligament aids powerfully in preventing the flexion of the knee 

 forwards, there being in the leg no process like the olecranon of the 

 ulna to prohibit (by the mere shape of the leg-bones themselves) a 

 bending of the joint in the wrong direction. 



Two other fibrous bands, termed the' crucial ligaments, are placed 

 in the centre of the knee-joint, and slightly cross each other, 

 whence their name. The anterior (or external) one (ae) goes from 



