DISSECTION OP THE ANTERIOR LIMB. 49 



deep face is partly adherent to the carpal bones or their anterior 

 ligaments, and partly it is lined by synovial membrane. The tendons 

 of the extensor pedis and the extensors of the metacarpus play over its 

 superficial face, where they are provided with synovial bursES. The 

 ligament is somewhat loose when the joint is extended, and is put on 

 the stretch during flexion. 



The Posterior Common Ligament is a much stronger ligament than 

 the preceding. It is fixed above to the radius, and below to the large 

 metacarpal bone. Its internal border mixes its fibres with the internal 

 lateral ligament, while its outer border is blended in the same way with 

 the most external of the intercarpal ligaments. Its anterior or deep 

 face is very intimately united to the carpal bones, and its posterior face 

 is smooth and lined by the synovial membrane of the carpal sheath. 

 The suhcarpal ligament, or fibrous band which reinforces the perforans 

 tendon below the carpus, takes origin from the posterior common liga- 

 ment, or may be described as the downward continuation of that 

 ligament. 



Directions. — The anterior and lateral ligaments just described are to 

 be carefully dissected away, and in removing the first of these care is 

 to be taken of the anterior bands connecting the bones in each row. 



Eadio-carpal Ligaments. — There are three of these. The strongest 

 of them is a thick cord that stretches obliquely downwards and inwards 

 behind the carpus, and connects the radius and scaphoid. It will be 

 seen, without removing the posterior common ligament, which covers it, 

 by strongly flexing the joint and looking into it from the front. The 

 second is a very slender ligament which is fixed to the radius beneath 

 the preceding, and passes downwards to be attached to the pisiform and 

 the interosseous ligament uniting the cuneiform and semilunar bones. 

 The third is situated at the outside of the carpus, where it connects 

 the radius and the upper border of the pisiform bone, and is partly 

 covered by the lateral ligament. 



The Intbr-carpal Ligaments are also three in number. Two of 

 them are situated behind the joint, undercover of the posterior common 

 ligament, and will be seen without further dissection on flexing the 

 joint and looking into it from the front. One of these connects the 

 scaphoid to the magnum and trapezoid, the other joins the cuneiform 

 and magnum. The third is a strong ligament situated at the outer 

 side of the joint, where it is blended with the latter ligament in front, 

 and with the posterior common ligament behind. Its fibres are fixed 

 superiorly to the pisiform bone, and inferiorly to the unciform and head 

 of the external small metacarpal bone. 



The Carpo-metaoarpal Ligaments are four in number — two anterior 

 and two interosseous. One of the anterior ligaments is composed of 

 two separate slips which connect the os magnum and large metacarpal 



e 



