166 



ARTICULATIONS OF THE LOWER LIMB. 



having lateral cartilaginous surfaces provided with synovial membrane, and 

 are connected by dorsal, plantar, and interosseous ligaments. The dorsal 

 and plantar ligaments are short transverse bands stretching across the 

 five metatarsal bones from one to another. The interosseous fibres, lying 

 deeply between the bones, occupy the rough parts of their lateral surfaces : 



Fig. 152. 



Fig. 152. VERTICAL ANTERO POSTERIOR SECTION OF THE ANKLE-JOINT AND ARTICU- 

 LATIONS OF THE FOOT, A LITTLE TO THE INSIDE OF THE MIDDLE OF THE GREAT 



TOE OF THE RIGHT FOOT. 



1, the synovial cavity of the ankle-joint ; 2, the posterior talo-calcaneal articulation; 3, 

 placed above the talo-scaphoid articulation ; 3', on the astragalus above the anterior talo- 

 calcaneal articulation, which is continuous with the preceding : the interosseous ligament 

 is seen separating 2 from 3' ; 4, the inferior calcaneo-scaphoid ligament ; 5, part of the 

 calcaneo-cuboid or long plantar ligament ; 6, the scaphoido-cuneifonn articulation ; 7, 

 the first metatarso-cuneiform articulation ; 8, the first metatarso-phalangeal articulation ; 

 9, section of the inner sesamoid bone ; 10, the phalangeal articulation ; 1 1, placed on the 

 calcaneum, indicates the bursa between the upper part of the tuberosity of that bone and 

 the tendo Achillis. 



they are of considerable strength and firmness. The intermetatirsal arti- 

 cular cavities are lined with synovial membrane, which in each is continued 

 forwards from that lining the joints formed between the bases of these bones 

 and the tarsus. The first aud second metatarsal bones do not articulate 

 laterally with each other. 



Transverse metatarsal ligament. The digital extremities or heads of the 

 metatarsal bones are loosely connected by a transverse band, which is 

 identical in its arrangement with the corresponding structure in the hand, 

 with this exception, that it is attached to the great toe, whereas in the hand 

 the transverse metatarsal ligament does not reach the thumb. 



ARTICULATIONS OF THE METATARSAL BONES WITH THE DIGITAL PHALANGES, 

 AND OF THE LATTER ONE WITH ANOTHER. The heads of the metatarsal bone* 

 are connected with the small concave articular surfaces of the first phalanges by 

 two lateral ligaments, an inferior ligament, and a synovial membrane, which 

 are closely similar to those which belong to the corresponding parts of the hand. 



The articulations of the phalanges with one another are also constructed 

 on the same plan as those of the superior extremity. In each, the bones 

 are held in contact by two lateral ligaments and an inferior ligament or 

 fibrous plate ; and each of the cavities is lined by a synovial membrane. 



MOVEMENTS,' &c. In the mechanism of the foot three arches are distinguishable, two 

 of them longitudinal and one transverse ; all of them capable of being flattened some- 



