LIGAMENTS OF KNEE. 635 



trocnemius, and descends vertically between two pieces of the tendon of 

 the biceps to a depression on the upper and outer part of the head of the 

 fibula. Beneath the ligament are the tendon of the popliteus, and the 

 external lower articular vessels and nerve. 



Fig. 216. Fig. 217. 



EXTERNAL LIQAMENT OF THE KNEE-JOINT. INTERNAL LIGAMENT OF THE KNEE-JOINT. 



(Bourgery). (Botirgery.) 



1. Anterior ligament. 1. Tendon of the extensor muscle ending below 



2. External lateral ligament. in the ligament of the patella, 2. 



3. Iiiterosseous ligament. 3. Internal lateral ligament. 



4. Part of the capsule. 4. Lateral part of the capsule. 



A second fasciculus is sometimes present behind the other, but it is not 

 attached to the femur : it is connected above with the gastrocnemius, and 

 below with the posterior prominence of the head of the fibula. 



The tendon of the biceps is inserted by two pieces into the points on 

 the head of the fibula ; and from the anterior of these there is a prolonga- 

 tion to the head of the tibia. The external lateral ligament passes be- 

 tween the pieces into which the tendon is split. 



The tendon of the popliteus may be followed by dividing the posterior 

 ligament. It arises from the fore part of the oblong depression on the 

 outer surface of the external condyle of the femur. In its course to the 

 outside of the joint, it crosses the external semilunar fibre-cartilage and 

 the upper tibio-peroneal articulation. When the joint is bent, the tendon 

 lies in the hollow on the condyle ; but slips out of that groove when the 

 limb is extended. 



The tendon of the adductor magnus is inserted into a tubercle on the 

 internal condyle of the femur, above the attachment of the internal lateral 

 ligament. 



The internal lateral ligament (fig. 217, 3 ) is attached to the condyle of 

 the femur, where it blends with the capsule ; but becoming thicker below, 

 and separate from the rest of the capsule, it is fixed for about an inch into 

 the inner surface of the tibia, below the level of the ligamentum patellae. 



The tendons of the sartorius, gracilis, and semitendinosus muscles lie 

 over the ligament ; and the tendon of the semimembranosus, and the 

 internal lower articular vessels and nerve are beneath it. To the posterior 

 edge some fibres of the tendon of the semimembranosus are added. 



