150 



ARTHROLOGY. 



Special Ligaments. 



Superior Tarsal. — These ligaments occur between the astra- 

 galus and calcaneum, and consist of one superior, two lateral, 

 and one interosseous. The superior stretches from the upper 

 border of the pulley of tlie astragalus to the calcaneum; the 

 lateral are very thin, and covered by the lateral common liga- 

 ments ; the interosseous one is strong, occupying the greater 

 part of the rough excavation between the 

 articular facets of the bones. 



Inferior Tarsal. — The ligaments of the 

 lower row are five, tiuo anterior, which con- 

 nect the cuboid to the great and middle 

 cuneiform bones, and three interosseous 

 ones, two of v/hich correspond to the anterior 

 ligaments ; the third interosseous ligament 

 unites the three cuneiform bones. Some of 

 these ligaments bound the tarsal foramen, 

 which gives passage to the perforating pedal 

 artery. 



Intertarsal. — The four ligaments in this 

 group are of greater importance than those 

 of the two last groups. The calcaneo-cuboid 

 or calcaneo-metatarsal ligament stretches 

 from the posterior border of the calcaneum 

 to the posterior part of the cuboid, termina- 

 ting on the head of the external metatarsal 

 bone ; externally it reaches the lateral, in- 

 ternally the tarso- metatarsal ligament. This 

 ligament becomes implicated in the lesion 

 known as curb. 



The Oblique, or A stragalo-metatarsal ligament, arising from 

 the antero-internal side of the astragalus, becomes attached to 

 the cuneiforme magnum and medium, the large metatarsal bone, 

 and the capsular ligament, the fibres radiating from above, and 

 running downwards and outwards. This ligament covers the 

 seat of bone-spavin. 



The Tarso-metatarsal is a single strong ligament, which 

 covers the tarsal groove and unites posteriorly all the bones of 

 the joint to the three metatarsal bones. It is smooth, for the 

 passage of the flexor tendon, and is the analogue of the posterior 



Fio. 65. 

 Ligaments of the tarsus 

 anterior-external view, i 

 External lateral, and 

 Oblique ligament. 



