426 



THE INFERIOR EXTREMITY 



of the fibula. The posterior band is the weaker of the two, 

 and the tendon of the popliteus with its synovial investment 

 rests upon its proximal part. The investment is a prolonga- 

 tion from the synovial layer of the knee joint, and in some 

 cases it will be found to be directly continuous with the 

 synovial layer of the capsule of the tibio-fibular joint. 



The fibular collateral ligament of the knee joint and the 

 tendon of the biceps femoris muscle have important relations 



Extensor 

 Anterior ligament of 



FIG. 197. Oblique sagittal section through the Foot, along a plane extending 

 from the centre of the heel behind to the centre of the great toe in 

 front. 



7. Tibialis posterior tendon. 



8. Flexor digitorum longus tendon. 



9. Plantar calcaneo - navicular liga- 



ment. 



10. M. quadratus plantae. 



11. Lateral plantar vessels and nerve. 



1. Flexor hallucis longus. 



2. Plantar accessory metatarso-phal- 



angeal ligament. 



3. Sesamoid bone. 



4. Flexor hallucis brevis. 



5. Plantar aponeurosis. 



6. M. flexor digitorum brevis. 



12. Calcaneus. 



to the joint. Both are attached to the head of the fibula, 

 lateral to the joint, and some of the tendinous fibres of the 

 biceps extend forwards to the lateral condyle of the tibia. 

 Additional support is thus afforded to the proximal tibio- 

 fibular joint. 



Syndesmosis Tibiofibularis (O.T. Inferior Tibio-fibular 

 Joint) (Figs. 193 and 196). The distal tibio-fibular articula- 

 tion is constructed upon a stronger plan than the proximal, 

 because the strength of the ankle joint very largely depends 

 upon its security. In some cases a very narrow strip of the 



