COMMON LIGAMENTS. 



149 



THE TARSUS. 



Similar to the carpus, this, the hock joint, consists of a true or 

 tihio-tarsal portion, together with the upper arid lower tarsal, 

 the intertarsal, and the tarso-metatarsal accessory articulations. 

 The ligaments are common and special. 



Common Ligaments. 



These are the external and internal lateral and the capsular 

 The internal lateral is formed of three 

 fasciculi of fibres, superficial, middle, and 

 deep. The superficial, the longest and 

 strongest, connects the internal malleolus 

 of the tibia with the astragalus, two 

 cuneiform, and the large and inner meta- 

 tarsal bones. The middle fasciculus, con- 

 sisting of two cords, likewise arises from 

 the internal malleolus of the tibia, one 

 division being attached to the astragalus, 

 the other to the calcaneum. The deep 

 fasciculus is very small; it passes from 

 the internal malleolus to the astragalus. 

 The external lateral ligament consists of 

 two crucial fasciculi, superficial and deep. 

 The superficial is strong and flat, joining 

 the external malleolus of the tibia to the 

 astragalus, calcaneum, cuboid, large and 

 external metatarsal bonej. The deep 

 fasiculus is short ; it passes obliquely 

 backwards, arising from the external 

 malleolus of the tibia, to the astragalus 

 and calcaneum. The capsular ligament is ^ery strong, and 

 attached superiorly round the distal articular surface of the tibia, 

 to the inferior border of the astragalus, to the cuneiforme mag- 

 num and medium, and to the lateral and oblique ligaments ; 

 posteriorly it is attached to ^the calcaneum and astragalus, and 

 there is a fibro-cartilaginous disc in its centre, over which glides 

 the flexor tendon, furnished with a synovial membrane. 



The capsular ligament is often described as double, and named 

 the anterior and posterior, the lateral ligaments with which it 

 blends being the lines' of division. 



Fia. 64. 

 Ligaments -of the tarsus— pos- 

 tero-internal view, a, Internal 

 lateral ligament ; b. Calcaneo- 

 cuboid ligament. 



