342 



SYNDESMOLOGY 





An inconstant bundle of fibers, the short fibular collateral ligament, is placed behind and 

 parallel with the preceding, attached, above, to the lower and back part of the lateral condyle 

 of the femur; below, to the summit of the styloid process of the fibula. Passing deep to it are 

 the tendon of the Popliteus, and the inferior lateral genicular vessels and nerve. 



The Cruciate Ligaments (ligamenta cruciata genu; crucial ligaments). The cru- 

 ciate ligaments are of considerable strength, situated in the middle of the joint, 

 nearer to its posterior than to its anterior surface. They are called cruciate because 

 they cross each other somewhat like the lines of the letter X; and have received 

 the names anterior and posterior, from the position of their attachments to the 

 tibia. 



The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ligamentum cruciatum anterius; external crucial 

 ligament] (Fig. 347) is attached to the depression in front of the intercondyloid 

 eminence of the tibia, being blended with the anterior extremity of the lateral 

 meniscus; it passes upward, backward, and lateralward, and is fixed into the medial 

 and back part of the lateral condyle of the femur. 



Ant. cruciateligament 

 Tendon of Popliteus 



Lateral meniscus 



Fibular collateral Jj 



ligament 



Ligament of 

 Wrisberg 



Medial meniscus 



Tibial collateral 

 ligament 



FIG. 348. Left knee-joint from behind, showing interior ligaments. 



The Posterior Cruciate Ligament (ligamentum cruciatum posterius; internal crucial 

 ligament) (Fig. 348) is stronger, but shorter and less oblique in its direction, than 

 the anterior. It is attached to the posterior intercondyloid fossa of the tibia, and 

 to the posterior extremity of the lateral meniscus; and passes upward, forward, 

 and medialward, to be fixed into the lateral and front part of the medial condyle 

 of the femur. 



The Menisci (semilunar fibre-cartilages) (Fig. 349). The menisci are two crescentic 

 lamellae, which serve to deepen the surfaces of the head of the tibia for articulation 

 with the condyles of the femur. The peripheral border of each meniscus is thick, 

 convex, and attached to the inside of the capsule of the joint ; the opposite border 



