16 THE POCKET ANATOMY 



The internal lateral ligament, broad and flat, is attached 

 above to the inner condyle of the femur ; below to the margin 

 of the inner tuberosity, and to the inner surface of the shaft 

 of the tibia for i inches. 



The long external lateral ligament, a rounded cord, is 

 attached above to the external condyle of the femur, and 

 below to the external part of the head of the fibula, dividing 

 the biceps tendon into two parts, a bursa intervening. 



The short external lateral ligament, very indistinct, lies 

 parallel and behind the preceding, attached above to the 

 outer condyle of the femur, and below to the styloid process 

 of the fibula. 



The capsular ligament, thin, fills up the intervals between 

 the special ligaments ; it is attached to the margins of the 

 articular surfaces of the bones, and blends with the fascia 

 lata of the thigh : above it receives expansions from the vasti 

 (lateral patellar ligaments). 



Inter articular Structures : 



The anterior or external crucial ligament is attached to 

 the depression in front of the spine of the tibia and to the 

 external semilunar fibro-cartilage ; it passes upwards, back- 

 wards, and outwards to the posterior part of the inner side of 

 the external condyle of the femur. 



The posterior or internal crucial ligament is attached to a 

 depression behind the spine of the tibia, to the popliteal 

 notch, and the posterior border of external semilunar fibro- 

 cartilage, this latter slip being sometimes called the ligament 

 of Wrisberg ; it passes upwards, forwards, and inwards, the 

 posterior fibres attached by side of oblique curve of inner con- 

 dyle, the anterior ones to fore part of intercondylar fossa and 

 to the anterior part of the outer surface of the inner condyle. 



The semilunar cartilages are thicker at the circumferences 

 than at the central margins, and serve to deepen the cavities 

 for the head of the femur. 



The internal semilunar cartilage is oval in shape, the 

 antero-posterior diameter being the longer. Its anterior ex- 

 tremity is attached to the tibia in front of the anterior crucial 

 ligament, and the posterior extremity in front of the posterior 

 crucial ligament. 



The external semilunar cartilage is nearly circular : its 

 anterior extremity is attached to the tibia in front of the 

 spine, the posterior extremity to the back of the spine. 



In shape the cartilages may be described thus : the internal 

 as a smaller segment of a larger circle, and the external as a 

 larger segment of a smaller circle. 



