KNEE-JOINT 



59 



MUSCLES ACTING ON THE JOINT Continued. 



The Knee-Joint is formed between the condyles of the femur 

 and the superior surface of the head of the tibia. The posterior 

 surface of the patella also enters into the joint. 



A hinge-joint capable of movement round one axis only : 



Transverse flexion and extension. 



A capsule surrounds the joint. It is, however, incomplete in 

 wfront where the tendon of the quadriceps extensor takes its 

 place. It has, as usual, distinct bands of fibres forming 

 strengthening fibres ; but they are not sufficient, so that expan- 

 sions from the tendons of adjacent muscles are also found. 



The Anterior Ligament (ligamentum patellae) is a strong flat 

 band, the tendon of the quadriceps extensor, attached to the 

 .apex and margins of the patella, and continued on to be inserted 



