214 



THE ARTICULATIONS. 



the animal advances in age. In adult Solipeds the coxae are constantly fused to 

 each other. 



The peripheral fibrous fasciculi extend transversely from one bone to the 

 other, above and below the symphysis ; those on the inferior face are incom- 

 parably stronger and more abundant than the others. 



The movements of this articulation are most restricted, and depend solely 

 upon the elasticity of the interosseous cartilage. They cease after its ossification. 



The fusion of the two coxae proceeds very slowly in the female of the Cat, Dog, Pig, Ox, 

 Sheep, and Goat species. 



2. COXO-FEMORAL ARTICULATION (Fig. 140). 



(Preparation. — Kemove the muscles surrounding the articulation. To view the interior, 

 divide the capsular ligament by a circular incision.) 



This is an enarthrosis, formed by the reception of the head of the femur into 

 the cotyloid cavity of the coxa. 



Articular surfaces. — As already shown, the cotyloid cavity represents the 



segment of a hollow sphere. 

 Fig. 140. deeply notched on the inner 



side, and provided at the 

 bottom with a wide depres- 

 sion, the internal moiety of 

 which is destined for the 

 insertion of one of the inter- 

 osseous ligaments, while the 

 external half plays the part 

 of a synovial fossa. This 

 depression is not covered by 

 cartilage, and communicates 

 by the internal notch with 

 the inferior fuiTow on the 

 pubis. The lip of the cotyloid 

 cavity is covered by a com- 

 plementary fibro-cartilage — 

 the cotyloid lignmpnt. This 

 fibro-cartilage is not inter- 

 rupted at the notch just 

 mentioned, but passes over it, 

 forming a remarkable band 

 (Fig. 140, 5) that converts 

 it into a foramen, through 

 which pass the pubic- or ilio- 

 femoral ligament and the 

 vessels of the articulation. 

 Fixed by its adherent border 

 to the margin of the cotyloid 

 cavity, this ligament is lined 

 It is thickest in front and 



sacro-iliac and coxo-femoral articulations, with the 

 small deep muscles surrounding the latter (inferior 

 surface). 



1, Sacro-iliac ligament ; 2, sacro-sciatic ligament ; 3, great 

 sciatic notch ; 4, anterior portion of the capsular ligament 

 of the coxo-femoral articulation ; 5, internal band of the 

 cotyloici ligament ; 6, co.xo-femoral ligament ; 7, jiubio- 

 femoral ligament ; 8, its insertion into the femur. 



by synovial membrane on its faces and free border, 

 within. 



With regard to the head of the femur, it will be remembered that it is exactly 



