34 



ELEMENTARY PHYSIOLOGY 



LESSON V. 

 LIGAMENTS. CARTILAGE. JOINTS. 



THE ligaments are strong, white, fibrous bands which bind the 

 bones together. Being more or less elastic, they allow of the 

 necessary freedom of motion to the bones, and at the same time 

 protect the joints from external injury and tend to prevent dislo- 

 cation. 



These ligamentous bands may easily be observed by carefully 



Fig. 36. The 



ments of the Elbow- Fig. 37. The Shoulder-Joint, showing Ligaments 

 Joint, from the Front. and Tendon 



t, 2, 3, and 4, the ligaments. i to 7, ligaments of the shoulder ; 8, a tendon. 



removing the flesh from a cooked rabbit or fowl or joint of meat. 

 It may be noticed at the same time that the masses of flesh 

 (muscles) are united to the bones by other white bands. These 

 are called tendons, and they must not be confused with ligaments, 

 which always bind bone to bone. 



Cartilage or gristle is a firm, tough, and flexible substance. 

 Bone is produced by the gradual hardening of cartilage. The 



