THE LEG. 



545 



must be ample and if they are not a piece of the femur must be resected. The 

 internal condyle is larger and projects more than the external. The cicatrix is drawn 

 posteriorly by the hamstring muscles and the resultant stump is good for pressure 

 bearing. 



If possible the semilunar cartilages should be left on the femur, the incision for 

 disarticulation being made between them and the tibia. The object of so doing is to 

 prevent the retraction of the soft parts and the resultant protrusion of the bone. The 



Semimembranosus 



Short saphenous vein 



Popliteal vein i 



Popliteal artery 



Plantaris 



Internal popliteal 

 (tibial) nerve 



External popliteal 

 (fibular) nerve 



Biceps 



External head of 

 gastrocnemius' 



Peroneus lorigus 

 Communicans fibularis 



FIG. 557- The popliteal space. 



extremities of the incision should be well back, so that the lateral ligaments can be 

 readily divided, and should not extend higher than the edge of the tibia. If infection 

 follows, pus may collect in the suprapatellar (subfemoral) bursa. 



THE LEG. 



The leg having to support the weight of the body has its bones strongly 

 made. The tibia bears nearly all the weight because it articulates with the femur 

 above and astragalus below and transmits the pressure directly from one to the 

 other. The fibula is slight compared to the tibia and lies posterior to it and to the 

 outer side. 



The leg bones receive the insertion of the thigh muscles above and give attach- 

 ment to the muscles which move the foot. The leg therefore is capable of being 

 influenced by the movements of the foot below and the thigh above. 

 35 



