BACK OF THE THIGH 251 



chain of anastomosis is carried distally by the medial and 

 lateral circumflex arteries anastomosing with the first per- 

 forating artery, and by anastomoses between the perforating 

 arteries. The chain is completed distally by anastomoses 

 between the most distal perforating arteries and the muscular 

 branches given from the popliteal artery to the hamstring 

 muscles. 



Dissection. At the end of the fifth day after the subject has been placed 

 upon its face, the dissector must paint the various parts in the glutreal and 

 thigh regions with the preservative solution, replace them in position, and fix 

 the skin flaps over them with a few points of suture. On the morning of 

 the following day he will find the body replaced upon its back, with the 

 pelvis and thorax supported by blocks, and he must at once proceed to 

 study any part of the medial region of the thigh previously left undissected, 

 and to the examination of the hip-joint. 



Articulatio Coxae (Hip-joint). The hip-joint is the most 

 perfect example of an enarthrosis or ball-and-socket joint in 

 the body. It does not allow so free a range of movement 

 as that which takes place at the shoulder-joint, but what 

 it loses in this respect it gains in strength and stability. Its 

 great strength and security depend (i) upon the depth of 

 the acetabulum and the thorough manner in which the head 

 of the femur is received into it; (2) upon the tension and 

 power of the ligaments ; (3) upon the length and oblique 

 direction of the neck of the femur ; and (4) upon atmospheric 

 pressure. 



The ligaments in connection with the hip-joint are : 



1. Capsula articularis. 3. Labrum glenoidale. 



2. Ligamentum teres. 4. Lig. transversum acetabuli. 



The capsular ligament and the ligamentum teres* are 

 attached to both bones entering into the construction of the 

 joint. The transverse ligament and the labrum glenoidale are 

 connected with the innominate bone only; the former 

 partially fills incisura acetabuli, whilst the latter surrounds 

 the circumference of the acetabulum in a ring-like fashion, and 

 serves to still further deepen it. 



Capsula Articularis (Capsular Ligament). This is exceed- 

 ingly strong, and surrounds the joint on all sides. Proximally, 

 it is attached around the acetabulum ; above and posteriorly 

 directly to the hip bone, just beyond the rim of the 

 cavity; anteriorly, to the superficial aspect of the labrum 

 glenoidale; and below, to the transverse ligament. Distally 



