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KNEE JOINT. 



The internal semilunar fibro-cartilage forms an oval cup for the 

 reception of the internal condyle ; it is connected by its convex border 

 to the head of the tibia, and to the internal and posterior ligaments, 

 by means of its coronary ligament ; and by its two extremities is 

 firmly implanted into the depressions in front and behind the spinous 

 process. The external semilunar fibro-cartilage bounds a circular fossa 

 for the external condyle : it is connected by its convex border with 

 the head of the tibia, and to the external and posterior ligaments, by 

 means of its coronary ligament ; by its two extremities it is in- 

 serted into the depression between the two projections which con- 

 stitute the spinous process of the tibia. 

 The two extremities of the external 

 cartilage being inserted into the same 

 fossa form almost a complete circle, 

 and the cartilage being somewhat 

 broader than the internal, nearly 

 covers the articular surface of the 

 tibia. The external semilunar fibro- 

 cartilage besides giving off a fasci- 

 culus from its anterior border to con- 

 stitute the transverse ligament, is 

 continuous by some of its fibres with 

 the extremity of the anterior crucial 

 ligament ; posteriorly it divides into 

 three slips ; one, a strong cord, as- 

 cends obliquely forwards and is in- 

 serted into the anterior part of the 

 inner condyle in front of the poste- 

 rior crucial ligament ; another is the 

 fasciculus of insertion into the fossa 

 of the spinous process ; and the third, 



of small size, is continuous with the posterior part of the anterior 

 crucial ligament. 



The ligamentum mucosum is a slender conical process of synovial 

 membrane enclosing a few ligamentous fibres which proceed from the 

 transverse ligament. It is connected, by its apex, with the anterior 

 part of the condyloid notch, and by its base is lost in the mass of fat 

 which projects into the joint beneath the patella. 



* The right knee joint laid open from the front, in order to shew the in- 

 ternal ligaments. 1 The cartilaginous surface of the lower extremity of the 

 femur with its two condyles ; the figure 5 rests upon the external ; the figure 

 3 upon the internal condyle. 2. The anterior crucial ligament. 3. The pos- 

 terior crucial ligament. 4. The transverse ligament. 5 The attachment of 

 the ligamentum mucosum ; the rest has been removed. 6. The internal semi- 

 lunar fibro cartilage. 7. The external fibro-cartilage. 8. Apart of the liga- 

 mentum patelhe turned down. 9. The bursa, situated between the ligamen- 

 tum patella? and the head of the tibia ; it has been laid open. 10. The anterior 

 superior tibio-fibular ligament. 1 1 . The upper part of the interosseous mem- 

 brane ; the opening above this membrane is for the passage of the anterior 

 tibial artery. 



