46 



THE ELASTIC TISSUES OF THE FOOT. 



when pulled lengthwise, return to their original position with a 

 jerk, reminding one closely of india-rubber. This tissue, like 

 cartilage, is insensitive, and almost non- vascular. 



1. The Latekal Cartilages 



Are attached to the wings of the pedal bone, which they 



prolong in a backward and 

 upward direction. Each car- 

 tilage consists of an approxi- 

 mately lozenge-shaped plate, 

 extending upwards above the 

 middle of the coronet bone. 

 In front, it is in contact with 

 the extensor tendon ; behind, 

 it projects beyond the pedal 

 bone. The free ends of the 

 cartilages tend to approach 

 each other, and thus to sur- 

 round the plantar cushion and 

 flexor perforans tendon. 



Each cartilage has two sur- 

 faces, four borders, and four 



Fig. 28.—^, pedal bone; B, lateral cartilage 

 cut through horizon ti 

 coffin joint ; c, poster 



cut through horizontally at the height of the aUglcS. ThC OUtOr SUrfaCC (ficr. 

 jro-lateral ligaments. ^ ^ '^ 



29, C) is convex, and covered 

 by numerous blood-vessels, mostly veins. Its anterior and upper 



parts are fairly smooth, 

 but the posterior and 

 under portion show 

 numerous apertures of 

 varying size, permitting 

 the passage of blood- 

 vessels. The anterior 

 portion of the inner 

 surface (fig. 30, JB) 

 covers the side of the 



FIG. 29.-Right fore-foot A, coronet bone; 5 pedal corOUCt boUC. It is COU- 

 bone ; C, outer lateral cartilage ; a, outer lateral 



ligament of pedal joint; b, ligament connecting caVC, and frOm itS UPPCr 

 lateral cartilage to coronet bone ; c, ligament connect- ' ^^ 



ing lateral cartilage to pedal bone. border arisC numCrOUS 



Strong, cord-like tendons, which run in various directions. Be- 



