94 THE HOUSE I LIVE IN. 



something of the kind. How, then, are they 

 kept together in the living person? This is 

 what I am about to tell you. 



They are held together by short and strong 

 straps, called ligaments. Some of them, how- 

 ever, are quite long, and begin at a considerable 

 distance, say an inch or two, from the very end 

 of one bone, and then, after passing over the 

 joint, are fastened into the next. The strap or 

 ligament does not adhere or stick to the joint, 

 as it passes loosely over it, but is only fastened 

 strongly, where it rises, and where it is inserted, 

 as if it were nailed to the bone. The inside, 

 where, in crossing, it lies against or rests gently 

 on the joint, is very smooth ; and is kept moist 

 as well as smooth ; so that the joint, in moving, 

 may not grate or wear out. 



These ligaments are white and shining, but 

 not always very thick. They are very strong. 

 Some of them are as narrow as a piece of tape. 

 Others, as at the sides of the knee, or the 

 shoulder, are very wide. Some cross each 

 other, as at the knee. The latter are shown 

 in the engraving. There are others still, that 

 go all round the joint, and completely shut it 



