440 FASCIA. 



the bones. This prolongation is strong and fibrous, penetrates 

 between these flexor muscles, dips down to the tibia and fibula, 

 and is lost insensibly just below the fascia of the popliteus mus- 

 cle. The popliteal fascia may also be considered one of the 

 emanations from the fascia cruralis. 



The fascia cruralis is not so strong as the femoral, yet it has 

 the same compact desmoid texture, and is formed from fibres 

 crossing in various directions. It is thicker in front than be- 

 hind, and is made tense by its connexion with the internal and 

 external hamstring muscles. 



Of the. Ligamentum Annulare of the Ankle Joint. 



The muscles on the front of the leg have their tendons con- 

 fined at the ankle by this ligament, which may be very properly 

 associated with the description of the crural fascia, owing to 

 the closeness of their connexion. It consists in a fasciculus of 

 ligamentous fibres running across the front of the ankle joint. 

 It is attached by one extremity to the superior face of the 

 greater apophysis of the os calcis, just before the rnalleolus ex- 

 ternus; is there very strikingly fibrous or ligamentous, and has 

 its small fasciculi separated by fatty matter. It is then direct- 

 ed inwards, and divides into two Iamina3, one of which goes 

 above the tendons, and the other below them. These lamina, 

 by adhering to their respective sides of the tendons, form a 

 loose gutter for each of them to play in; the gutters, however, 

 for the tibialis anticus and extensor pollicis are not so perfect 

 behind as the others, and are also more loose. The ligament 

 is then fixed by one division to the anterior margin of the mal- 

 leolus internus, and by another, which is wrapped over the in- 

 ternal face of the foot, into the scaphoides and the internal 

 margin of the fascia plantans. As the upper margin of this lig- 

 ament is continuous with the fascia cruralis, so the inferior 

 runs into the fascia on the back of the foot, called aponeurosis 

 dorsalis pedis. 



Of the FascicB of the Foot. The fascia cruralis, being strongly 

 attached to the posterior and lower margins of the internal an- 

 kle, its fibres radiate thence to the lower part of the tendo- 

 achillis, to the inner side of the os calcis, and to the internal mar- 



