280 



THE ARTICULATIONS 



thin and weak, so that the head of the bone can be seen through it. The capsule 

 is thickest in the course of the iUo-femoral Hgament, toward the lateral part of 

 which it measures over 6 mm. (| in.). Between the ilio-femoral and ischio-cap- 

 sular ligaments 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 downward and forward to be attached by a narrow insertion to 

 the ridge on the front border of the greater trochanter near the gluteus minimus 

 (the ilio -trochanteric band) (fig. 308). 



The capsule is strengthened also at this point by a strong band from the under surface of 

 the gluteus minimus, and by the tendino-trochanteric band which passes down from the reflected 

 tendon of the rectus to the vastus lateralis (externus) (fig. 306). This is closely blended with 

 the capsule near the lateral edge of the ilio-femoral ligament. 



The thinnest part of the capsule is between the pubo-capsular and ilio-femoral 

 ligaments; this is sometimes perforated, allowing the bursa under the psoas to 

 communicate wdth the joint. The capsule is also very thin at its attachment to 

 the back of the femoral neck, and again opposite the acetabular notch. 



Fig. 310. — Hip-joint after Dfs^iding the Articular Capsule and Disarticulating the 



Femur. 



Articular capsule, cut 

 Glenoid hp 



Ligamentum teres 



Articular capsule 



Articular capsule 



The ligamentum teres (figs. 309 and 310) is an interarticular flat band which 

 extends from the acetabular fossa to the head of the femur, and is usually about 

 3.7 cm. (1| in.) long. It has two bony attachments, one on either side of the 

 acetabular notch immediately below the articular cartilage, while intermediate 

 fibres spring from the lower surface of the transverse ligament. The ischial 

 portion is the stronger, and has several of its fibres arising outside the cavity, 

 below and in connection with the origin of the transverse ligament, where it is 

 also continuous with the capsule and periosteum of the ischium. At the femur 

 it is fixed to the front part of the depression on the head, and to the cartilage round 

 the margin of the depression. 



It is covered by a prolongation of synovial membrane, which also covers the cushion of fat 

 in the recess of the acetabulum ; the portion of the membrane reflected over the fatty tissue does 

 not cling closely to the round ligament, l)ut forms a triangular fold, the apex of which is at the 

 femur. 



The transverse ligament (fig. 311) passes across the acetabular notch and 

 converts it into a foramen; it supports part of the glenoid fibro-cartilagc, and is 

 connected with the ligamentum teres and the capsule. It is composed of decus- 

 sating fibres, which arise from the margin of the acetabulum on either side of 

 the notch, those coming from the pul)is Ix'ing more superficial, and passing to form 



