164 



TBE AMTICULATIONS. 



these complementary meBiscii, for the tibial spine rubs directly against the 

 inner sides of the femoral condyles. The. internal semilunar jihro-cartilage, 

 the widest and thickest, is inserted by its anterior extremity into one of the 

 excavations situated in front of the spine ; its posterior extremity is attached 

 in the fossa behind that eminence. The external semilunar jihro-cartilage is 

 fixed, in front, near the anterior insertion of the opposite flbro-cartilage ; 

 its posterior extremity gives origin to two slips or cords, one superior, the 

 other inferior. The first, the strongest and longest, terminates in the fossa 

 near the posterior extremity of the intercondyloid notch. The second, thin 

 and flat, is inserted on the posterior outline of the external tibial facet. 



Fig. 91. 



No. 2. 



FEMOEO-TIEIAL ARTICULATION". 



No. 1. Posterior face : the posterior ligament has been removed. — 1, External menis- 

 cus; 2, Fibrous fasciculi fixing it to the femur; 3, Fibrous fascia which attaches 

 it to the posterior contour of the tibial surface ; 4, Internal meniscus ; 5, Tibial 

 insertion of the posterior crucial ligament ; 6, External lateral ligament : 7, 

 . Internal lateral ligament. 



No. 2. External face : the external condyle of the femur and the meniscus have been 

 removed to show the crucial ligaments.— 1, Anterior crucial ligament ; 2, Posterior 

 ditto ; 3, Fibular insertion of the external lateral ligament ; 4, Anterior patellar 

 ligaments.— A, Internal meniscus ; E, Anterior insertion of the external meniscus ; 

 C, Pa.ssage for the tendinous cord common to the flexor of the metatarsus and the 

 anterior extensor of the phalanges ; D, Anterior and superior tuberosity of the 

 tibia; E, Tibial crest. 



The external border of this meniscus is separated from the external lateral 

 ligament by the tendon of the popliteus muscle, and acts, with regard to this 

 tendon, as a pulley. ° 



Mode of union.— T\\e bands which bind this complicated articulation are 

 very numerous. They will be successively described as : 1, Those which 

 attach the patella to the tibia ; 2, Those which unite the femur with the tibia. 



A. Ligaments attacMng the patella to the tibia.— The patella is bound to 

 the tibia by three funicular ligaments, designated by the generic epithet of 

 " patellar." They are situated in front of the articulation, and are charged 



