THE KNEE-JOINT 



341 



The Tibial Collateral Ligament (ligamentum collaterals tibiale; internal lateral liga- 

 ment) (Fig. 345). The tibial collateral is a broad, flat, membranous band, situated 

 nearer to the back than to the front of the joint. It is attached, above, to the medial 

 condyle of the femur immediately below the adductor tubercle; below, to the medial 

 condyle and medial surface of the body of the tibia. The fibers of the posterior 

 part of the ligament are short and incline backward as they descend; they are 

 inserted into the tibia above the groove for the Semimembranosus. The anterior 

 part of the ligament is a flattened band, about 10 cm. long, which inclines forward 

 as it descends. It is inserted into the medial surface of the body of the tibia about 

 2.5 cm. below the level of the condyle. It is crossed, at its lower part, by the 

 tendons of the Sartorius, Gracilis, and Semitendinosus, a bursa being interposed. 

 Its deep surface covers the inferior medial genicular vessels and nerve and the 

 anterior portion of the tendon of the Semimembranosus, with which it is connected 

 by a few fibers; it is intimately adherent to the medial meniscus. 



Posterior view. 



FIG. 347. Right knee-joint, from the front, 

 showing interior ligaments. 



The Fibular Collateral Ligament (ligamentum collateral fibulare; external lateral or 

 long external lateral ligament) (Fig. 348). The fibular collateral is a strong, rounded, 

 fibrous cord, attached, above, to the back part of the lateral condyle of the femur, 

 immediately above the groove for the tendon of the Popliteus; below, to the lateral 

 side of the head of the fibula, in front of the styloid process. The greater part of 

 its lateral surface is covered by the tendon of the Biceps femoris; the tendon, 

 however, divides at its insertion into two parts, which are separated by the liga- 

 ment. Deep to the ligament are the tendon of the Popliteus, and the inferior 

 lateral genicular vessels and nerve. The ligament has no attachment to the lateral 



meniscus. 



