532 



A MANUAL OF ANATOMY 



semilunar fibro-cartilages, with their coronary hgaments ; and 

 the transverse hgament. There are other structures, within the 

 joint, designated as hgaments, namely, the ligamentum mucosum 

 and ligamenta alaria ; but, as these are merely folds of the synovial 

 membrane, they will he described in connection with it. 



Crucial Ligaments. — These are two in number, anterior or 

 external, and posterior or internal, and they bind the condyles of 

 the femur to the head of the tibia. They are very powerful, 

 somewhat round bundles situated in the centre of the joint, and so 

 disposed as to form a cross. 



Posterior Crucial Ligaim 

 Patellar Facet ..^ 

 Internal Condyle 



Internal Semilunar. - 

 Fibro-cartilage 



External Condyle 



. Anterior Crucial 



Ligament 

 -External Semilunar 

 Fibro-cartilage 

 Long External Lateral 

 Ligament 



-Transverse Ligament 



Anterior Superior 

 ■ Tibio-fibular Ligament 



Fig. 252.- 



-The Crucial Ligaments of the Left Knee- Joint 

 (Anteetior View). 



The anterior or external crucial ligament is attached inferiorly tci 

 the inner part of the rough depression on the upper surface of th({ 

 head of the tibia in front of the inner tubercle of the spinel 

 Superiorly it is attached to the depression on the posterior pari 

 of the internal surface Of the external condyle of the femur. Itf 

 direction is upwards, backwards, and outwards. At its tibial attachs 

 ment it has the anterior cornu of the internal semilunar fibro-cartilagl 

 in front of it, and the anterior cornu of the external semilunar fibrc| 

 cartilage behind and to its outer side. The anterior crucial) 

 ligament is tense in extension of the knee-joint, and prevents oveiJ 

 extension. It is also tense in internal rotation of the leg. Th 

 ligament is at one period the internal lateral ligament of tlie extern«J 

 femoro- tibial joint. 



