Till: AHTICVLATION8 IN GEXK11AL. 125 



when two opposing extremities are convex. It may bo remembered that the 

 hit. nil tuberosities of each tibial surface present, for articulation witli the 

 comlylcs of the femur, two convex diarthrodial faces whose coaptatiou is 

 rendered perfect by the interposition between each condyle and correspond- 

 ing tibial surface of a crescent-shaped fibro-cartilage, which for this reason 

 has been named a mcniacus. In other joints those interarticular fibro- 

 cartilages are shaped like discs or biconcave lenses. There then result 

 double diarthroses: example, the temporo-maxillary articulation. (Fibro- 

 cartilage also covers bony surfaces over which tendons play, as on the 

 troehlear surface of the humerus, postero-inferior face of the navicular bone, 

 and elsewhere. In these situations it is named stratiform Jibro-cartilage.) 

 These organs are formed, as their name indicates, by fibrous and car- 

 tilaginous tissue ; their mode of association need not be referred to here, 

 though it may be observed that the cartilage is more particularly found in 

 all those points where there is most articular friction. They receive vessels, 

 and sometimes nerves. 



LIGAMENTS. These are bands which unite contiguous diarthrodial 

 surfaces. They are sometimes formed of white fibrous tissue, and some- 

 times of yellow ; from whence their division into two great classes of white 

 and yclloir ligament*. 



a. The white ligaments are distinguished by the pearly whiteness of 

 their tissue and want of elasticity. Those which are found on the outer 



Fig. 79. 





\\iim: 01: N>\-I;I.ASH<- i ii;um s VKI.IOW OR KLASTIO FIBROUS TISSUE, FROM 



Tissri:. mi: I.H;AM>:MTM XIVH.I. 



aspect of the articulations are termed peripheral, and those in their interior 

 are designated internmcoua or MlerarticNttr ///""" " /x - 



The peripheral ligaments are generally composed of parallel fibres 

 collected in fasciculi, or spread out as membranes. In the first they are 

 called funicular, or ribbon-shaped ; in the second, they are termed mem- 

 hritnit'orni, or ctipmilar. The funicnlnr li</(imcnt# constitute short, round, or 

 flattened bands, attached by their extremities to the two bones they unite : 

 tbev are lined on their inner aspect by the synovial capsule, and covered 

 externally by tendons, aponeuroses, muscles, vessels, or nerves. The 

 (-il-xitlur li'/iiiiienh an; often complete that is to say, they envelope the 

 whole articulation like a sack. At other times they are incomplete, and 



