DISSECTING MANUAL. 



to the semilimar cartilage; a bursa separates it from overlying 

 tendons. The (long) external lateral ligament is a rounded band 

 running from the tubercle on the femoral external condyle to 

 the outer side of the fibular head, in front of its styloid process; 

 it descends under the capsule and splits the Biceps tendon. 

 The short or posterior external lateral ligament (inconstant) 

 arises just behind the preceding, under the Gastrocnemius, 

 and descends over the Popliteus to the styloid process. [300] 



The crucial ligaments are two strong rounded bands, within 

 the capsule, which cross each other; they are distinct and 

 each has its own partial synovial covering. The anterior begins 

 at the inner part of the depressed area in front of and close to 

 the tibial spine, and runs upward, outward, and backward to 

 the external femoral condyle, at the back part of the intercon- 

 dyloid notch ; it is tense in extension. The posterior begins at 

 the back of the depressed area behind the tibial spine, close to 

 the popliteal notch, and runs upward, forward, and inward to 

 the internal femoral condyle, near the front part of the inter- 

 condyloid notch ; it is tense in flexion. [300] 



The semilunar interarticular fibro-cartilages lie between the 

 femur and tibia. Each has a thick convex outer border, and a 

 thin concave and free inner border ; each ends in two horns (cor- 

 nua) , anterior and posterior. The internal fibro-cartilage forms 

 nearly a semicircle; its horns are attached to the tibia just in 

 front of the anterior and posterior crucial ligaments respec- 

 tively ; the deep part of the internal lateral ligament is attached 

 to its periphery. The external fibro-cartilage forms nearly a 

 circle and its horns are embraced by those of the internal. It 

 is attached to the tibia by its anterior horn in front of the spine, 

 external to and partly under the anterior crucial ligament; 

 and by its posterior horn to the interval between the tubercles 

 on the spine. It is also attached to the posterior ligament be- 

 hind, while a large bundle of fibres runs from its posterior border 

 to the back of the posterior crucial ligament. Short bands 

 (ligamenta coronaria) join the outer margins of the fibro-car- 



[262] 



