214 



DISSECTION OF THE LEG. 



occasional 

 band. 



Tendon of 

 the. biceps is 

 divided. 



Tendon of 

 the popli- 

 teus, 



and of 



adductor 



magnns. 



Internal 

 lateral 

 ligament : 



attach- 

 ments ; 



is joined by 



semimem- 



branosus. 



Insertion 

 of thesemi- 

 membrano- 



Posterior 

 ligament. 



below the tendon of the gastrocnemius, and descends vertically, 

 partially subdividing the tendon of the biceps, to a depression on 

 the upper and outer part of the head of the fibula. Beneath the 

 ligament are the tendon of the popliteos and the external lower 

 articular vessels and nerve. 



A second fasciculus is sometimes present behind the other, but 

 it is not attached to the femur ; it is connected above with the 

 outer head of the gastrocnemius, and below with the styloid process 

 of the head of the fibula. 



The tendon of the biceps is inserted by two main pieces into the 

 head of the fibula, ; and from both of these fibres are prolonged to 

 the head of the tibia. The external lateral ligament passes between 

 these pieces into which the tendon is partially split. 



The tendon of the popliteus may be followed by dividing the 

 posterior ligament. It arises from the fore part of the oblong 

 depression on the outer surface of the external condyle of the 

 femur. In its course to the outside of the joint, it crosses the 

 external semilunar fibro-cartilage and the upper tibio-peroneal 

 articulation. When the joint is bent, the tendon lies in the hollow 

 on the condyle ; but it slips out of that groove when the limb is 

 extended. 



The tendon of the adductor magnus is inserted into the adductor 

 tubercle on the internal condyle of the femur, above the attachment 

 of the internal lateral ligament. 



The internal lateral ligament (fig. 8 1, 3 ) is attached above to the 

 condyle of the femur, where it blends with the capsule ; but becom- 

 ing broadened out and thicker below, and separate from the rest of 

 the capsule, it is fixed for about an inch into the inner surface of 

 the tibia, below the level of the ligamentum patellae : some of the 

 deeper fibres join the internal semilunar fibro-cartilage. 



The tendons of the sartorius, gracilis, and semitendinosus muscles 

 lie over this ligament ; and the tendon of the semimembranosus, 

 and the internal lower articular vessels and nerve are beneath it. 

 To the posterior edge some fibres from the tendon of the semimem- 

 branosus are added. 



The tendon of the semimembranosus muscle is inserted beneath the 

 internal lateral ligament into the lower part of the groove at the 

 back of the inner tuberosity of the tibia : between it and the upper 

 edge of the groove is a synovial bursa. The tendon sends a few 

 fibres into the internal lateral ligament, a prolongation to join the 

 fascia on the popliteus muscle, and another to the posterior ligament 

 of the knee-joint (fig. 52, p. 128). 



The posterior ligament is wide and membranous, and is formed 

 in great part by a strong process from the tendon of the semimem- 

 branosus, which is directed across the joint to the outer side. It is 

 fixed below to the head of the tibia behind the articular surface ; 

 and above, it is attached in the centre to the femur at the upper 

 border of the intercondylar notch, but 011 each side it joins the 

 tendinous head of the gastrocnemius. Numerous apertures exist 

 in it for the passage of vessels and nerves to the interior of the 



