34 



LIGAMENTOUS STRUCTURES OF THE FOOT. 



depression at the lower end of the metacarpus, and becomes 

 attached to the rough spot on the side of the upper end of the 

 suffraginis bone, and partly also to the excentric surface of the 

 sesamoid. 



(c) The connections between the sesamoid bones are much 



more complicated 

 than those of the 

 bones hitherto re- 

 garded. 



(1) The sesamoid 

 bones are connected 

 with one another by 

 means of an inter- 

 sesamoidean liga- 

 ment (b). This con- 

 nection is so strong 

 as almost to convert 

 the two sesamoids 

 into one mass, and 

 to render movement 

 between them out of 

 the question. 



The inter-sesamoi- 

 dean ligament con- 

 sists of very strong, 

 fibrous tissue (with an 

 admixture of white 

 fibro-cartilage), the 

 pjq 21 fibres of which run 



Fig. 21 shows the bones of the foot and their ligaments obliouelv between 



viewed from the side, figs. 22 and 23 viewed from behind. i • 



The letters indicate same parts in each figure, a, exter- the OpDOSino" SUrfaCCS 



nal lateral ligament of pastern joint ; ft, intersesamoidean j i*^ i j^m 



ligament ; c, superior sesamoidean ligament ; d, middle and Completely fill 



limb of inferior sesamoidean ligament ; d', lateral limb of , , . 



do.; e, cruciate ligament ;/, lateral sesamoidean ligament; the SpaCe whlch 



g, outer lateral ligament of the pastern joint; h and h', i j t_ 



posterior corono-sutfraginal ligaments; i, outer lateral WOUld OtherwisCCxist 

 ligament of pedal joint ; k, postero-lateral ligaments of 



navicular bone ; I, fibrous sheath of synovial membrane of between the bonCS. 



coffin joint. mi • .• 



ihis tissue IS pro- 

 longed upwards above the sesamoids, forming an oval mass 

 which posteriorly is somewhat concave and markedly exceeds in 

 size the sesamoid bones themselves. The posterior surface is 

 very smooth and permits of the tendon of the flexor pedis per- 



