LIGAMENTS OF THE KNEE-JOINT. 251 



great strength, and that part of it arising from the anterior 

 inferior spinous process of the ilium and inserted into the 

 inter-trochanteric line, including what is known as the ilio- 

 femoral ligament, divides inferiorly into two bands, sepa- 

 rated by an interval, their disposition resembling an in- 

 verted letter Y. This arrangement of the fibres and its 

 influence in maintaining, as well as causing the position of 

 the head of the femur, characteristic of its various forms 

 of dislocation, and in the reduction of these b3^ manipulation, 

 have been particularly described by Dr. H. J. Bigelow. 



The capsular ligament is to be divided transversely, and the head 

 of the femur dislocated from its socket, to see the inter-articular liga- 

 ment. Or, better still, a circular portion of bone may be removed on 

 the inside of the os innominatum, by the gouge, from the space 

 between the obturator foramen and the greater sacro-ischiatic notch, 

 cutting out the floor of the acetabulum ; this shows the ligament from 

 within. 



The inter-articular ligament, or ligamentum teres^ extends 

 from the triangular depression in the head of the femur to 

 the borders of the notch in the acetabulum, where it blends 

 with the fibres of the transverse ligament. 



The cotyloid ligament is a fibro-cartilaginous baud at- 

 tached to the margin of the acetabulum, the cavity of 

 which is surrounded and deepened by it. 



The transverse ligament is a band of fibres, continuous 

 with those of the cotyloid ligament, which extends across 

 the notch of the acetabulum, protecting the vessels which 

 pass beneath it to the inter-articular ligament and head of 

 the femur. 



The head of the femur is not entirely coated with car- 

 tilage, a portion of it around the depression in its centre 

 being divested of that covering. In the cotyloid cavity 

 there is also a depression which has no cartilage ; this is 

 occupied by a mass of fat, sometimes called the synodal 

 gland of Havers. 



The TIBIO-FEMORAL ARTICULATION, or KNEE-JOINT, is 

 invested by a capsule, and by anterior, posterior, external 

 and internal, lateral ligaments. 



The capsule is a fibrous membrane which surrounds the 

 heads of the bones, and fills the intervals of the stronger 

 special ligaments. It is connected with the patella, femur, 



