THE REGION OF THE KNEE 455 



meniscus (p. 456). Distally, the tibial collateral ligament extends 

 to the proximal part of the shaft of the tibia, where it receives 

 attachment behind the semitendinosus tendon. 



The Fibular Collateral (External Lateral) Ligament 

 forms a distinct rounded band, which is attached to the lateral 

 condyle of the femur about half an inch from its articular 

 margin. As it crosses the lateral aspect of the knee-joint, the 

 ligament is separated from the lateral meniscus by the popliteus 

 tendon, its associated bursa (p. 456), and the lateral inferior 

 genicular artery. Distally, it is attached to the head of the 

 fibula in close relation to the insertion of the biceps. 



The collateral ligaments may be strained or torn during the 

 same violent movements of the joint which may give rise to 

 injury of the menisci. In the former condition tenderness is 

 experienced on palpation over the injured ligament, whereas, 

 when the menisci are involved, the tenderness is most marked 

 in the triangular depressions at the sides of the ligamentum 

 patellae (p. 443). 



The Posterior part of the capsule is specially thickened 

 and helps the anterior cruciate ligament to prevent hyper- 

 extension of the joint. It is further strengthened by the oblique 

 popliteal ligament, which extends obliquely across the back of 

 the joint from the semimembranosus, at its insertion, to the 

 medial border of the lateral femoral condyle. 



The Medial Meniscus (Int. Semilunar Cartilage) of the 

 knee-joint is interposed between the peripheral parts of the 

 medial condyles of the tibia and the femur. It is semilunar in 

 outline, and its two extremities are widely separated from one 

 another. The anterior extremity is attached to the anterior 

 part of the non-articular area on the top of the tibia, and in 

 addition it is connected to the anterior part of the lateral 

 meniscus by the transverse ligament. The posterior extremity 

 is attached to the posterior part of the non-articular area referred 

 to above (Fig. 133). 



The Lateral Meniscus (External Semilunar Cartilage) is 

 nearly circular in outline, and its extremities are attached close 

 to one another. Its anterior extremity is attached to the tibia 

 immediately in front of the intercondylar eminence (tibial spine), 

 while its posterior extremity is attached to the eminence itself, 

 and is also connected with the posterior cruciate ligament 

 (Fig. 133). 



The menisci are thickest round their peripheral borders and 



29 c 



