104 DISSECTIOX OF THE DOG 



tibia and fibula. All remains of the muscles will require to be cleaned 

 away. 



There are two joints between the tibia and the fibula : a proximal tibio- 

 fibular articulation (articulatio tibio-fibularis) , and a distal tibio- fibular syndes- 

 mosis (syndesmosis tibio-fibularis). Between these joints the interosseous 

 membrane of the leg (membrana interossea cruris) unites the two bones. Very 

 commonly the distal third or more of the tibia and fibula are joined together 

 by bone. 



Articulatio tibio-fibularis. — The tibio-fibular articulation is surrounded by 

 a joint-capsule (capsula articularis). 



Syndesmosis tibio-fibularis. — The tibio-fibular syndesmosis is very strong 

 and provided with an anterior and a posterior ligament (lig. malleoli lateralis 

 anterius et hg. malleoli lateralis posterius) which bind the malleolus of the 

 fibula to the distal end of the tibia. 



Dissection. — Remove all tendons, annular ligaments, and muscles from 

 the tarsus, metatarsus, and digits. 



Articulatio talo-cruralis. — The talo-crural or ankle-joint, formed by the 

 two bones of the leg and the talus, is a strong articulation provided with 

 conspicuous ligaments. The joint-capsule (capsula articularis) is attached to 

 the articular margins of the tibia, fibula, and talus. On the medial side of the 

 joint the deltoid ligament (ligamentum deltoideum) arises from the medial 

 malleolus, and, by diverging bundles, passes to the scaphoid, talus, and 

 sustentaculum tali of the calcaneus. Laterally there are three ligaments 

 running from the end of the fibula to the talus and calcaneus. The posterior 

 talo-fibular ligament (ligamentum talo-fibulare posterius), the most proximal 

 of the three, joins the lateral aspect of the trochlea of the talus. The calcaneo- 

 fibular ligament (ligamentum calcaneo-fibulare) is the strongest and best 

 defined member of the group, and finds attachment to the lateral surface of 

 the calcaneus. The anterior talo-fibular ligament (ligamentum talo-fibulare 

 anterius) is very rudimentary and attached to the neck of the talus. 



Ligaments connected with the talus. — A number of ligaments, some of them 

 feeble, hold the talus in position. The posterior tahcalcanean ligament (liga- 

 mentum talo-calcaneum posterius) is rudimentary and is placed at the most 

 proximal point of contact of the talus and calcaneus. A very poorly repre- 

 sented lateral talo-calcanean ligament (ligamentum talo-calcaneum laterale) 

 unites the lateral surfaces of the two bones. The medial talo-calcanean ligament 

 (ligamentum talo-calcaneum mediale) is much stronger than the preceding, 

 and is partly covered by the deltoid ligament. It runs from the tubercle on the 

 medial surface of the talus to the sustentaculum tali. A dorsal tarsal ligament 



