KXEE JOINT. 



149 



Fig. 70.* 



strong rounded cord, which descends from the posterior part of the 

 tubercle upon the external condyle of the femur to the outer part 

 of the head of the fibula. The short external lateral ligament is an 

 irregular fasciculus situated behind the 

 preceding, arising from the external 

 condyle near the origin of the head of 

 the gastrocnemius muscle, and inserted 

 into the posterior part of the head of 

 the fibula. It is firmly connected with 

 the external semilunar fibre-cartilage, 

 and appears principally intended to con- 

 nect that cartilage with the fibula. The 

 long external lateral ligament is covered 

 in by the tendon of the biceps, and has 

 passing beneath it the tendon of origin 

 of the popliteus muscle, and the inferior 

 external articular artery. 



The true ligaments within the joint 

 are the crucial, transverse, and coro- 

 nary. 



The anterior, or external crucial liga- 

 ment, arises from the depression upon 

 the head of the tibia in front of the 

 spinous process, and passes upwards and backwards to be inserted 

 into the inner surface of the outer condyle of the femur, as far as its 

 posterior border. It is smaller than the posterior. 



The posterior, or internal crucial ligament, arises from the depres- 

 sion upon the head of the tibia, behind the spinous process, and passes 

 upwards and forwards to be inserted into the inner condyle of the 

 femur. This ligament is less oblique and larger than the anterior. 



The transverse ligament is a small slip of fibres which extends 

 transversely from the external semilunar fibro-cartilage, near its an- 

 terior extremity, to the anterior convexity of the internal cartilage. 



The coronary ligaments are the short fibres by which the convex 

 borders of the semilunar cartilages are connected to the head of the 

 tibia, and to the ligaments surrounding the joint. 



The semilunar fibro-cartilages are two falciform plates of fibro- 

 cartilage, situated around the margin of the head of the tibia, and 

 serving to deepen the surface of articulation for the condyles of the 

 femur. They are thick along their convex border, and thin and sharp 

 along the concave edge. 



* A posterior view of the ligaments of the knee-joint. 1. The fasciculus of 

 the ligamentum posticum Winslowii, which is derived from, 2. the tendon of 

 the semi-membranosus muscle; the latter is cut short. 3. The process of the 

 tendon which spreads out in the fascia of the popliteus muscle. 4. The 

 process which is sent inwards beneath the internal lateral ligament. 5. The 

 posterior part of the internal lateral ligament. 6. The long external lateral 

 ligament. / The short external lateral ligament. 8. The tendon of the 

 popliteus muscle cut short. 9. The posterior superior tibio-fibular ligament. 



