150 



THE SKKLFAVN 



of the inner lip. The adductor loayuii and lyrevts are inserted into the intervening 

 space; the adductor longus takes rather more than the middle third, and overlaps 

 the lower jtart of the adductor hrevis, wliich takes rather more than the upper 

 third. The outer lip in its lower two-thirds gives origin to the shorter head of the 

 biceps. Tlie condylar lines are two in numlaer; the outer is continuous with the 

 outer lip of the Hnca aspera and terminates inferiorly on the outer edge of the 

 external condyle. From the ui)per lialf of this line a part of the short head of the 

 biceps arises. ' Near its termination the line expands to give origin to the plantaris 

 and the outer head of the gastrocnemius. The inner condylar line is not so promi- 

 nent as the outer; it is continuous with the imier lip of the linea aspera, and 

 terminates at the adductor tubercle. The adductor magnus is inserted into the 

 whole length of the line and to the tuhercle. Near the middle of the line there is 

 an interruption where tlie femoral artery passes through the opening in the tendon 

 of the adductor magnus. The inner head of the gastrocnemius arises from the 

 femur immediately ahove the internal condyle. The space enclosed between these 

 diverging lines forms part of the anterior boundary of the popliteal space, and is in 

 close relation with the popliteal vessels. The shaft of the femur is overlapped on 



Fig. 160. — The Fkmvr at Birth. 



APPEARS EARLY IN THE NINTH MONTH OF INTRA-UTERINE LIFE 



the inner side Ity the vastus internus, and on the outer side it gives origin in the 

 upper thrrc-fourths to the crurens and is overlapped by the vastus externus. The 

 upper three-fourths of the anterior surface serves for the origin of the crureus, and 

 the lower fourtli gives attachment to the sul)crureus. 



The lower ('xtremity ].resents two cartilage-covered condyles, separated bv a 

 deep notch. The external condyle is more prominent anteriorly and wider tlian 

 its fellow. The internal is more i)rominent ])osteriorlv, and narrower; it is also 

 longer, to compensate for tlie ol)ii(iuity of the shaft. When the femur is properiv 

 articulated, the inferior surfaces of. the condyles are nearlv on the same plane, and 

 ahnost ])arallel to come into contact with the articular surfaces on the head of the 

 tibia. Posteriorly the condyles are separated bv a deep pit or notch; anteriorlv 

 they are unit.'d l)y an articular surface, over which the patella glides. The inner 

 surface of tlie internal condyle lias, near its postenor border, a rough surface for the 

 internal lat.-ral ligament of the knee-joint; above this is the adductor tubercle. 

 The surface of tins condyle, which bounds the intercondyloid notch, aft'ords 

 attachment, near the anterior border, to the posterior crucial litianient. The surface 

 of the external condyle which bounds the notch gives attacliment, at its post(n-ior 



