154 



ARTICULATIONS OF THE LOWER LIMB. 



derived from the muscular tendons and aponeuroses. The ligaments which 

 have received special names are the following. 



The internal lateral ligament, long and flat, connects the internal 

 tuberosity of the femur with the inner tuberosity and the hinder border 

 of the tibia, on the shaft of which it descends for some distance. Superiorly 

 its deep surface rests on the articular synovial membrane ; in the middle it 

 is attached to the internal seinilunar cartilage ; and below the head of the 

 tibia the anterior slip of insertion of the semimembranosus muscle passes 

 between the ligament and the bone. 



The external lateral ligament is a rounded cord, which extends from the 

 external tuberosity of the femur to the head of the fibula. Its internal 

 surface corresponds with the tendon of the popliteus muscle and the inferior 



Fig. 141. 



Fig. 141, A. THE KNEE-JOINT, OPENED FROM BEFORE; THE PATELLA, CAPSULE, AVD 

 SYNOVIAL STRUCTURES REMOVED, TO SHOW THE CRUCIAL LIGAMENTS AND SEMILUNAR 

 CARTILAGES, 3 



1, external, and 2, internal semilunar cartilage ; 3, on the outer condyloid surface of 

 the femur, points to the anterior external crucial ligament ; 4, placed on the elevated line 

 separating the patellar from the inner condyloid surface of the femur, points to the 

 posterior or internal crucial ligament ; 5, transverse ligament of the semilunar cartilages ; 

 6, part of the ligamentum patellae ; 7, on the head of the fibula, points to the superior 

 anterior tibio-fibular ligament ; 8, upper part of the interosseous membrane, showing the 

 perforation for the anterior tibial artery. 



Fig. 141, B. THE KNEE-JOINT, OPENED FROM BEHIND, AND ITS STRUCTURES REMOVED, 



SO AS TO EXPOSE THE CRUCIAL LIGAMENTS AND SEMILUNAR CARTILAGES. 



1, posterior part of the internal semilunar cartilage ; 2, external semilunar cartilage ; 

 3, upper part of the external or anterior crucial ligament ; 4, lower part of the internal 

 or posterior crucial ligament : farther up is seen its accessory band joining the external 

 semilunar cartilage ; 8, upper part of the interosseous membrane ; 9, back part of the 

 internal lateral ligament; 10, placed on the head of the .fibula, points to the posterior 

 superior tibio-fibular ligament : between the head of the fibula and the external semilunar 

 cartilage (2) is seen the synovial surface of the tibia, upon which the semilunar cartilage 

 descends in flexion, and where a communication sometimes takes place between the 

 synovial cavities of the knee-joitit and the tibio-fibular articulation. 



