THIGH BONE. 215 



means so elevated, runs in front, from the one process to the 

 other, and indicates the line of attachment of the capsular liga- 

 ment of the hip joint. 



The inferior extremity of the os femoris is much more volu- 

 minous than the superior, and is divided into two parts, called 

 the internal and the external condyle. These condyles are of 

 very nearly the same size, but, being separated by a notch be- 

 hind, they are placed somewhat obliquely in regard to each 

 other; and the internal, from being the most oblique, and, con- 

 sequently, the most protuberant, also seems to be the larger. 

 If the os femoris be placed exactly vertical, the internal con- 

 dyle has the appearance of being the longest; but, if it be placed 

 in its natural obliquity, the lower face of the condyles is on the 

 same plane. In front, the condyles unite to form an articular 

 trochlea, on which the patella plays : this trochlea is unequally di- 

 vided by a vertical depression, so as to have its more extensive 

 surface externally. This latter surface is the anterior part of 

 the external condyle, and is much more elevated than the in- 

 ternal part of the trochlea, which belongs to the internal con- 

 dyle. Posteriorly, the internal condyle projects more than the 

 external, and both have the articular surfaces, there, so much 

 elongated backwards and upwards, as to admit of a very great 

 flexion of the leg. 



Each condyle presents an internal and an external face. The 

 internal condyle has on its internal face a tuberosity, from which 

 proceeds the internal lateral ligament of the knee; on its exter- 

 nal face it forms one-half of the notch which separates it from 

 the other condyle, and at its anterior part in the notch may be 

 observed a small depression, from which proceeds the poste- 

 rior crucial ligament. The external condyle, also, has on its 

 external face a tuberosity, from which proceeds the external 

 lateral ligament of the knee, and just below it a depression for 

 the origin of the popliteus muscle. Its internal face forms the 

 other half of the notch just mentioned, and on the posterior part 

 of this face is a small depression for the attachment of the an- 

 terior crucial ligament. The inferior face of the condyles is 

 somewhat flattened, the transverse diameter of that of the ex- 

 ternal being rather longer than the other. The inferior extre- 



