THE KNEE 



1185 



fascia lata passing off from the sides of the j.at.lhi upwards to the tliigh and down- 

 wards to the Ictr, serve to conduct inflanimation awav from tlie joint 



Synovial membrane (fig. 751).— To trace thi's, the largest of the synovial 

 membranes, the linger would start from the to]) of the i)atella, where it forms a 

 short rul-de-mc between the .puuh-ieeps extensor and the front of the femur this 

 process reachmg al)out an ineli (25 mm.) above the trochlear surface of the fennu- 

 At Its highest ponit this cul-de-mc communicates with another synovial bursa-like 



Fig. 751.— Vertical Section of the Knee-joint in the Anteeo-posteeiob Direction. 



(The .synovial bursa usually present above the upper synovial eul-ih-mc is not shown.) 



(The bones are somow1l.^t drawn apart.) 



Fatty tissue 

 Opening in synovial 

 membrane behind 

 crucial ligament 

 leading into inner 

 half of joint 

 Synovial membrane re- 

 fleeted off crucial liga- 

 ments 

 Cut end of anterior cru- 

 cial ligament 

 Posterior crucial liga- 

 ment 

 Ligament of vyinslow 



Muscular fibres of quadriceps 

 extensor 



ension of synovial sac of knee 

 upon femur 



Tendon of quadriceps extensor, 

 forming fibrous capsule of joint 



PATELLA 



Pre-patellar bursa 

 CONDYLE OF FEMUR (INNER) 

 liigamentum mucosum 



Fatty tissue between 

 ligamentum patellae 

 and synovial sac 



Bursa beneath ligamentum 

 patellae 



sac lying between the quadriceps and front of the femur. Thus, synovial mem- 

 brane will usually be met with two and a half inches (62 mm.) above the trochlear 

 surface or the upper border of the patella when tlie limb is extended. Flexing the 

 joint draws the membrane down very slightly. During extension, the al)ove pouch 

 is supported by the subcrureus. At the sides the synovial membrane extends up 

 under the vasti for about three inches (75 mm.) on the inner and rather less on 

 the outer side. Traced downwards, the membrane lines the caiisule. lateral and 

 posterior ligaments. ' It passes over the greater portion of the erucial ligaments, 

 75 



