58 



KNEE JOINT. 



femur. It is thicker and longer in front than it is behind, and is 

 strengthened by a bundle of fibres, » called ilio-femoral. . 



Cotyloid Ligament^ (Fig. 34). — Is a thick prismatic ring of fibro- 

 cartilage, surrounding and deepening the acetabulum. 



Ligamentum teres^ (Fig- ^4). — Is attached to a pit upon the head 

 of the femur, and divides into two fasciculi, which are inserted into 

 the corners of the notch of the acetabulum and the cotyloid ligament. 

 The synovial membrane is extensive, and the Haversian mass is 

 large. 



KNEE JOINT. 



This joint is surrounded by an expansion of the fascia lata of the 

 thigh, called the involucrwni generale. 



Anterior Ligament. — Is the ligament of the patella^ (Fig. 44) ; 

 it is the strongest ligament of the body. It is a continuation of 

 the tendon of the quadriceps muscle,* in which the patella^ 

 is developed, previous to its insertion into the tubercle of the 

 tibia. 



Posterior Ligament. — Is the ligament of Winslow* (Fig. 45). It is 

 a broad ligament passing obliquely from the external condyle of the 



femur to the posterior part 



Fig. 44. 



Fig. 45. 



of the internal tuberosity 

 of the tibia. Its strongest 

 fasciculi are derived from 

 thesemi-membranosus ten- 

 don .^ 



Internal Lateral Liga- 

 ment. — Is broad, thin, and 

 membranous, extending 

 from the external condyle 

 of the femur to the lower 

 part of the internal tubero- 

 sity of the tibia.^ 



External lateral Liga- 

 w£nt. — Is a strong cord- 

 like ligament^ reaching 

 from the external condyle 

 to the superior extremity of the fibula. 



Semilunar Cartilages. — Are two prismatic rings of fibro-carti- 

 lage, deepening the articular surfaces of the tibia. The external'^ 

 (Fig. 46) is the smaller and more circular. The internal^ is the 

 larger and a semicircle. The extremities are attached to the 

 spine of the tibia. A small transverse ligament* connects them 

 behind. 



Crucial Ligaments. — These cross each other. The anterior^ 



