REGION OF THE HIP. 



57 



over this notch, and its deeper part loses its cartilaginous cells, becomes fibrous, and 

 is called the transverse ligament. 



Beneath the transverse ligament pass vessels, nerves, fatty tissue, and the 

 extremity of the ligamenturn teres, which is attached to the ischium just outside. 



Running up in the floor of the acetabulum from the cotyloid notch is a depres- 

 sion in which is lodged the ligamenturn teres and a pad of fat called the Haversian 

 gland. The ligamenturn teres is composed of synovial and connective tissue. It 

 is not strong and ruptures at about 14 kilos; the small artery it contains affords 

 nourishment for itself alone, only a very small amount of blood going to the head of 

 the femur. Bland Sutton regards it as a vestigial structure and a regression of the 

 pectineus muscle. It is too weak to add much to the strength of the joint, and the 

 view of Allis that its function is to distribute the synovial fluid and act as a lubri- 



Anterior superior spine 



Anterior inferior spine 

 Tendon of rectus 



Iliotrochanteric band 

 Iliofemoral or Y-Hgament 



Weak point between the branches 

 of the Y-ligament 



Anterior intertrochanteric line 



Weak point, bursa for il 



Pubofemoral ligament 



FIG. 509. Anterior view of the ligaments of the hip- joint. 



eating agent is probably correct. The great pressure to which the articulating sur- 

 faces of the hip-joint are subjected requires special lubrication and this is furnished by 

 the ligamenturn teres and Haversian gland. 



Like other joints, the hip has a capsular ligament which is strengthened by 

 bands or ligaments. These ligaments are the iliofemoral, pubofemoral, and ischio- 

 femoral. 



Iliofemoral Ligament (Berlins' ligament or Y ligament of Bigelow). This 

 is the strongest ligament in the body. The single stem of the Y ligament is attached 

 to the upper edge of the rim of the acetabulum just below the anterior inferior spine. 

 Its two branches are attached below to the anterior intertrochanteric line. Its upper 

 edge is reinforced by a band from the ilium to the trochanter, the iliotrochanteric 

 band, and one from the reflected tendon of the rectus, the tendinotrochanteric band 

 (Henry Morris) (Fig. 509). 



The pubofemoral ligament, also called the pectineofemoral ligament, runs 

 outward into the capsule from the horizontal ramus of the pubes. It is quite weak. 



Ischiofemoral Ligament. Allis describes this ligament as follows: " It arises 

 from the ischial portion of the rim of the socket and sends its fibres to the capsule to 

 be blended with them. As its fibres extend upward they separate like two fingers 

 or terminal processes, the one extending forward to the base of the oblique (pos- 

 terior) line, the other running backward to the digital fossa (Fig. 510)." 



It will be observed that this makes it a posterior Y ligament with a distinct bony 

 attachment for its two arms (like the external lateral ligament of the elbow see 



