Joints of the Lower Extremity. 213 



Articulatio genu (continued) (see also Figs. 259 and 261). The capsula 

 articularis passes in front from the posterior surface of the tendon of the m. quadriceps 

 femoris (see p. 211) to the anterior surface of the femur above the joint tuberosities; 

 it covers their cartilaginous surfaces completely and goes over at the sides only a little 

 beyond the margin of the cartilaginous coating so that it leaves the region of the epi- 

 condyli free (see Fig. 261). 



To the tibia the capsule is attached around the margo infraglenoidalis, a little 

 below the margin of the cartilaginous surfaces; thence it goes to the lower margin of 

 each of the two menisci, lines its lower and upper surfaces and from its upper margin 

 passes in front to the posterior surface of the patella and of the tendon of the 

 m. quadriceps femoris (see p. 211), laterally and behind to the point of reflection on 

 the femur. 



The ligamentum patellae (see also Fig. 261) is a flat, very strong ligament, 

 which goes off from the lower margin and the anterior surface of the patella and, 

 narrowing slightly, becomes attached to the tuberositas tibiae; it is separated from the 

 capsula articularis by thick masses of fat. The ligament is partially a direct continuation 

 of the tendinous fibres of the m. quadriceps femoris running over the patella and can 

 accordingly be considered as the terminal tendon of this muscle; in this sense the 

 patella itself has to be thought of as a large sesamoid bone intercalated in this tendon. 



