THE HIP-JOINT 



323 



capsule, and form a sling or collar around the neck of the femur. Anteriorly 

 they blend with the deep surface of i\\(. iliofernoral ligament, and through 

 its medium reach the anterior inferior spine of the ilium. The longitudinal 

 fibres are greatest in amount at the upper and front part of the capsule, where 

 they form distinct bands or accessory ligaments, of which the most important 

 is the iliofemoral. Other accessory bands are known as the pubofemoral (liga- 

 mentum pubocapsulare), passing from the outer portion of the horizontal pubic 

 ramus, the iliopectineal eminence, the obturator crest and the obturator mem- 



ANTERIOR 



INTERTRO- 



CHANTERIC LINE 



FIG. 259. Right hip-joint, from in front. (Spalteholz.) 



brane, to the front of the capsule; and the ischiocapsular ligament or ligament 

 of Bertin (lig amentum ischiocapsulare), which passes from the ischium, just below 

 the acetabulum, to blend with the circular fibres at the lower part of the joint. 

 The external surface is rough, covered by numerous muscles, and separated in 

 front from the Psoas and Iliacus muscles by a synovial bursa, which not infre- 

 quently communicates, by a circular aperture, with the cavity of the joint. It 

 differs from the capsular ligament of the shoulder in being much less loose and 

 lax, and in not being perforated for the passage of a tendon. 



