248 



THE ARTICTLA TIOXS 



over the ])ack of the femur in a zonular manner, embracing the posterior aspect of 

 the neck of the femur. 



The pectineo-femoral band (fig. 237) is a distinct but narrow set of fibres 

 which are inclivi(hially le.-s marked than the fibres of the other two liands; they are 

 fixed al)ove to the anterior border of the pectineal eminence, reaching as far down 

 as the pubic end of the cotyloid notch. Below, they reach the neck of the femur, 

 and art^ fixed aliove and behind the lowermost fibres of the ilio-femoral band, Avith 

 which they blend. 



In thickness and strength the cajisule varies greatly; thus, if two lines be 

 drawn, one from the anterior inferior spine to the inner border of the femur near 

 the lesser trochanter, and the other from the anterior part of the groove for the 

 external oliturator to the digital fossa, all the ligament between these lines on the 

 outer and upper aspects of the joint is very thick and strong, while that below and 

 to the inner side, except at the narrow pectineo-femoral band, is thin and weak, so 



Fig. 238. — Postekiok View of the Capsule of the Hip-joint. 



Here are seen the reflected 

 tendon of the rectus and 

 the triangular 'ilio-tro- 

 ehanteric' band 



Isehio-fenioral band 

 This is placed on the weak 

 portion of the capsule 



that the li('ad()f the bone can be seen through it. The capsule is thickest in the 

 course of the ilio-femoral band, towards the outer part of which it measures over a 

 quarter of an inch (6 mm.). Between the ilio-femoral and ischio-femoral bands 

 the capsule is very strong, and with it here, near the acetabulum is incorporated 

 the reflected tendon of the rectus, and here also a triangular band of fibres runs 

 downwards and forwards to be attached by a narrow insertion to the ridge on the 

 front liorder of the greater trochanter near the gluteus minimus (the ilio-trochan- 

 tericband) (fig. 238). 



The eapsule is strengthened also at this point bv a strono- band from the under 

 surface of tlie gluteus minimus, and l)y the tendino-trochanteric band which 

 passes down from the reflected tendon of the rectus to the vastus externus (fig. 

 237). This is closely l)lended with the capsule near the outer edge of the ilio- 

 femoral ligament. 



The thinnest part of tlie eapsule is Ijetween the pectineo-femoral and ilio-femoral 



