256 



THE A R Tin 'LA TIOXS 



attached above to the femur close to the articular margins of the condyles, stretch- 

 ing across the upper margin of the intercondyloid notch, to which it is connected 

 by tibro-fatty tissue; it thus reaches across from the internal to the external 

 lateral ligaments. Below, it is fixed to the border of the outer tuberosity of the 

 til)ia, to the bone just below the popliteal notch, and to the shaft of the tibia 

 below the inner tuberosity, blending with the descending slip of the semi- 

 meinbranosHS and internal lateral ligament. Superficially, an oblique fasciculus 

 from the seminicmbranosus runs across the centre, passing upwards and outwards 

 from near the l)ack part of the inner tuberosity of the tibia to the external condyle 

 of the femur where it joins the outer head of the gastrocnemius, a sesamoid plate 

 being sometimes developed at the point of junction. This slip greatly strengthens 



Fig. 246. — Axteriok View of the Ixtekxal Liga.mexts of the Knee-joint. 



Aperture leading into the 

 bursa beneath the quadri- 

 ceps extensor 



Attachment of capsular, or 

 anterior ligament to femur 



Fatty tissue within cut edge 

 of ligamentum mucosum 



Anterior crucial ligament 



External semilunar 

 flbro-eartilage 



Coronary ligament 



Posterior crucial ligament 



Internal semilunar 

 flbro-cartilage 



Transverse ligament 

 Coronary ligament 



the i)Osterior ligament, of Avhich, if not the chief constituent, it is at least a very 

 important part. 



. Its deep surface is closely connected Avith the semilunar cartilages (especially 

 the inner) and coronary ligaments, and in the interval between the cartilages with 

 the posterior crucial ligament and fibro-fatty tissue within the joint. Superficially 

 it forms part of the floor of the ])opliteal space. 



The capsular oi- anterior ligament (fig. 246) is thin but strong, covering the 

 synovial membrane midcr tin- cjuadriceps extensor tendon, and looking like a loose 

 sac. It is atta(;hed to the femur near the articular margin on the inner side, but 

 further away on the outer; it passes beneath the external lateral ligament to join 

 the sheath of the poplHem. Internally it joins the internal lateral ligament. Below, 

 it is fixed to the upper and lateral borders of the patella and the anterior border 



