THE SUPPORTING TISSUES. 



Ill 



called the synovial membrane, which secretes a fluid known 

 as the synovial fluid, intended probably as a kind of lubri- 

 cant to reduce the friction to a minimum. To make these 



Fig. 55. Fig. 56. 



Fig. 55. RIGHT KNEE-JOINT, FROM THE INNER SIDE AND ANTERIORLY. (Allen Thomson.) 

 1, tendon of the rectus muscle near its insertion into the patella; 2, insertion of 

 the vastus internus into the rectus tendon and side of the patella; 3, ligamentum patel- 

 lae descending to the tubercle of the tibia; 4, capsular fibres forming a lateral ligament 

 of the patella prolonged in part from the insertion of the vastus internus downwards 

 towards the inner tuberosity of the tibia; 5, internal lateral ligament; 6, tendon of the 

 semimembranosus muscle. 



Fig. 56. THE LIGAMENTS OF THE WRIST JOINT, DORSAL VIEW. 



joints firm and preclude the possibility of displacement, 

 they are wrapped with a series of ligaments extending 

 from one bone to the other, so as to make impossible the 

 relative displacement of the articulating surfaces. 



