LIGAMENTS OF THE HAND. 269 



ligaments retaining the Tendons of the Muscles of the Hand 

 and Fingers in their proper positions. 



The anterior annual ligament of the wrist is stretched across 

 from the projecting points of the pisiform and unciform bones, 

 to the os scaphoides and trapezium, and forms an arch which 

 covers and preserves in their places the tendons of the flexor 

 muscles of the fingers. 



The vaginal ligaments of the flexor tendons are five mem- 

 branes, connecting the tendons of the sublimis, first to each 

 other, and then to those of the pro fund us ; forming, at the same 

 time, bursae mucosae which surround the tendons. 



The vaginal or crucial ligaments of the phalanges arise from 

 the ridges on the concave side of the phalanges, and run over 

 the tendons of the flexor muscles of the fingers. Upon the 

 body of the phalanges, they are thick and strong, to bind down 

 the tendons, but over the joints they are thin, and have, in 

 some parts, a crucial appearance, to allow the ready motion of 

 the joints. 



The accessory ligaments of the flexor tendons of the fingers 

 are small tendinous fraena, arising from the first and second 

 phalanges of the finger. They run obliquely forwards within 

 the vaginal ligaments, terminate in the tendons of the two flexor 

 muscles of the fingers, and assist in keeping them in their places. 



The posterior annular ligament of the wrist is part of the 

 aponeurosis of the forearm, extending across the back of the 

 wrist, from the extremity of the ulna and os pisiforme to the 

 extremity of the radius. It is connected with the small annular 

 ligaments which tie down the tendons of the extensores ossis 

 metacarpi et primi internodii pollicis, and the extensor carpi 

 ulnaris. 



The vaginal ligaments adhere to the last mentioned, and 

 serve as sheaths and bursae rnucosae to the extensor tendons of 

 the hand and fingers. 



The transverse ligaments, of the extensor tendons, are 

 aponeurotic slips running between the tendons, near the heads 

 of the metacarpal bones, and retaining them in their places. 

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