DISSECTION OF THE DOG 103 



bursa intervenes between the ligament and the smooth proximal part of the 

 tibial tuberosity. 



The patellar ligament is, strictly speaking, the tendon of insertion of the 

 quadriceps muscle of the thigh, and the patella is a sesamoid bone developed 

 therein. 



Ligamentum collaterale tibiale. — The medial collateral ligament passes 

 from the condyle of the femur to just beyond the condyle of the tibia. The 

 ligament is attached to the margin of the medial meniscus. 



Ligamentum collaterale fibulare. — The lateral collateral ligament passes 

 from the lateral condyle of the femur to the head of the fibula. 



Dissection. — Open the joint by making a transverse incision through the 

 capsule just proximal to the patella and a longitudinal incision along 

 each side of this bone. The patella with the patellar ligament may 

 then be turned downwards. Observe the synovial fringes in the interior 

 of the joint, and the cartilaginous extensions of the patella. 



Dissect away the posterior part of the capsule and examine the crucial 

 ligaments and the menisci of cartilage interposed between the femur 

 and the tibia. 



Ligamentum cruciatum anterius. — The anterior cruciate ligament passes 

 obliquely from the anterior intercondyloid fossa of the tibia to the medial face 

 of the lateral condyle of the femur. 



Ligamentum cruciatum posterius. — Not quite so strong as the anterior, the 

 posterior cruciate ligament runs from the popliteal notch of the tibia to the 

 lateral surface of the medial condyle of the femur. 



Menisci lateralis et medialis. — The poor adaption of the femoral and 

 tibial articular surfaces is partly compensated by the presence of two crescentic, 

 cartilaginous pads of which the lateral is somewhat the larger. The convex 

 edge of each meniscus is thick ; whereas the concave edge is thin and directed 

 towards the intercondyloid eminence of the tibia. 



The convex border of the lateral meniscus is crossed obliquely by a deep 

 groove for the reception of the tendon of origin of the popliteus muscle. 



Each meniscus is attached in front by ligamentous tissue to the anterior 

 intercondyloid fossa of the tibia, and in addition there is a transverse ligament 

 (lig. transversum genu) running from one meniscus to the other across the tibial 

 attachment of the anterior cruciate ligament. 



Behind, the medial meniscus is attached to the posterior intercondyloid 

 fossa of the tibia. The lateral meniscus has two posterior attachments ; one 

 to the tibia just beyond the articular margin and lateral to the popliteal notch ; 

 the other by a strong ligament which crosses the posterior cruciate ligament 

 obliquely to end on the medial condyle of the femur. 



Dissection. — Now proceed to the examination of the joints between the 



It 4 



