THE HIP-JOINT 



325 



The ligamentum teres (ligamentum teres femoris) (Figs. 262 and 263) is a tri- 

 angular band implanted by its apex into the depression a little behind and below 

 the centre of the head of the femur, and by its broad base into the margins of the 

 cotyloid notch, where it blends with the transverse ligament. It is formed of 

 white fibrous connective tissue, surrounded by a tubular sheath of synovial mem- 

 brane. Sometimes only the synovial fold exists. Very rarely it is absent. The 

 ligament is made tense when the hip is semiflexed, and the limb adducted and 

 rotated outward; it is, on the other hand, relaxed when the limb is abducted. 

 It has, however, but little influence as a ligament, and though it may to a certain 

 extent limit movement, it would appear to be merely a "vestigial and practically 

 useless ligament." 1 



ANTERIOR 



INFERIOR 



SPINE OF ILIUM 



TRANSVERSE 

 LIGAMENT OF 



ACETABULUM 



TUBEROSITV 

 OF ISCHIUM 



FIG. 261. Right hip-joint from the mesal side. (The bottom of the acetabulum has been chiselled away 

 sufficiently to make the head of the femur visible.) (Spalteholz.) 



The cotyloid ligament (labrum glenoidale (Fig. 264) is a fibrocartilaginous rim 

 attached to the margin of the acetabulum, the cavity of which it deepens; at the 

 same time it protects the edges of the bone and fills up the inequalities on its sur- 

 face. It bridges over the notch as the transverse ligament of the acetabulum, and 

 thus forms a complete circle, which closely surrounds the head of the femur, 

 and assists in holding it in its place. It is prismoid on section, its base being 

 attached to the margin of the acetabulum and its opposite edge being free and 

 sharp. Its two surfaces are invested by synovial membrane, the external one being 

 in contact with the capsular ligament, the internal one being inclined inward, so 

 as to narrow the acetabulum and embrace the cartilaginous surface of the head 

 of the femur. It is much thicker above and behind than below and in front, 



1 J. Bland Sutton, Ligaments: Their Nature and Morphology, 1887. 



