THE LIMBS OF THE HOKSE 



157 



muscle, and ends on the head of the fibula. A small synovial bursa 

 intervenes between the ligament and the lateral condyle of the tibia. 



Dissection.— Make a transverse incision through the femoro-patellar 

 capsule just proximal to the patella, and longitudinal incisions on each 

 side of the patella— through the capsule and the femoro-patellar hga- 

 ments — so that the bone, with its three ligaments intact, may be turned 

 downwards. 



Now dissect away the femoro-tibial capsule and the accumulations 

 of fat, so that a clear view of the cruciate ligaments and the menisci 

 may be obtained. 



M. gastrocnemius (caput medi.ile). 



M. adductor.^ 



iledial meniscus. ^, 



Lig. cruciatum posterius. - 



Lig. collaterale tibiale. 

 Tibia. 



- 'Femur. 



^ ^[. gastrocnemius 

 (caput laterale). 



— M. plantaris. 



-Lig. cruciatum anterius. 



Lig. collaterale tibul.ire. 

 Tendon of m. popliteus. 



Lateral meniscus. 



Fibula. 



Fig. 110. — Posterior Aspect of the Femoro-Tibial Articulation. 



* Two ligamentous bands attaching the lateral meniscus to the femur and tibia. 

 The lines of attachment of the synovial linings of the joint-capsule are indicated in red. 



The anterior cruciate ligament (ligamentum cruciatum anterius) 

 passes obliquely from the depression on the intercondyloid eminence of 

 the tibia to the medial face of the lateral condyle of the femur. The 

 posterior cruciate ligament (ligamentum cruciatum posterius) crosses the 

 medial surface of the anterior. It arises from the medial part of the 

 popliteal notch of the tibia and the adjacent part of the posterior inter- 

 condyloid fossa. An oblique course forwards and upwards carries 

 it to its point of fixation to the lateral face of the medial condyle of 



the femur. , , ... ^.^ 



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