304 SKELETON. 



tending obliquely from the external condyle of the os femoris 

 to the posterior part of the head of the tibia. It is frequently 

 called the ligament of Winslo-w, and by the French anatomists 

 is considered as one of the divisions of the tendinous insertion of 

 the scmUmernbranosus muscle, in consequence of its close con- 

 nexion with it. There are several foramina or interstices in it, 

 which permit a passage of blood vessels to the fatty matter 

 placed between it and the crucial ligaments; and beneath it 

 there are some transverse fibres. 



The Inlernal Lateral Ligament (Lig. Laterals Internum) is a 

 flattened fasciculus of fibres placed at the internal side of the 

 joint. It arises from the tuberosity on the inner side of the in- 

 ternal condyle, and descending vertically is slightly attached to 

 the inner semi-lunar cartilage, and is then inserted into the su- 

 perior margin and the internal face of the head of the tibia for 

 two inches or more, increasing in breadth as it descends. On 

 the one side it is in contact with the synovial membrane, and on 

 the other, with the invohicrum and the tendon of the sartorius, 

 the scmi-lendinosus, and the gracilis, 



The External Lateral Ligament (Lig. Laterale Extemum 

 Longum,) placed on the external side of the joint, is nearer its 

 posterior face than the internal ligament. It arises from the 

 tuberosity on the outer face of the external condyle, above and 

 behind the tendinous origin of the popliteus muscle, and is in- 

 serted into the external part of the superior extremity of the 

 fibula, being covered in almost its whole extent by the tendon 

 of the biceps. Its inner face is in contact with the synovial 

 membrane, and ihc articular vessels. Its rounded form and 

 shining appearance make it look very much like a tendon. Be- 

 hind it, occasionally, is a small fasciculus, called by some the 

 short external lateral ligament, which passes from the external 

 condyle to the head of the tibia. 



The Crucial Ligaments (Lig. Cructata,) two in number, are 

 named from their crossing one another laterally, and thereby 

 forming a figure, resembling the letter X, or a Malta cross. 

 They arc situated at the posterior part of the articulation be- 

 tween the posterior ligament and the synovial membrane. One 



