234 



THE ARTICULATIONS OF THE HORSE 



tach the patella to the tuberosity of the tibia. The lateral patellar ligament ex- 

 tends from the lateral part of the anterior surface of the patella to the lateral part 

 of the tuberosity of the tibia. It receives a strong tendon from the biceps femoris 

 muscle and also part of the fascia lata. The middle patellar ligament extends 

 from the front of the apex of the patella to the distal part of the groove on the 

 tuberosity of the tibia; a bursa is interposed between the ligament and the upper 

 part of the groove, and a smaller one occurs between the upper part of the ligament 

 and the apex of the patella. The medial patellar ligament is attached above to the 



'■^ 



Proximal end of 

 Shaft femoro-patellar 



of capsule 



femur 



Lateral head of gasirocnetnius 



Lateral femoro-patellar ligament 



Attachment nf joint capsu, 

 Lateral condyle of femur 



Lateral femoro-tibial ligameni — ^ 

 Popliteus Wi 



Deep digit: d flexor 



Base of patella 



Distal end of capsule 

 — Middle patellar ligament 

 Medial patellar ligament 



Lateral patellar ligament 



(stump) 



Tuherositij of tibia 

 Tibialis anterior 



Long extensor 



Lateral extensor 



Fig. 246. — Right Stifle Joint of Hobsb; Lateral View. 

 The femoro-palcllar capsule was filled with plaater-of-Paris and then removed after the cast was set. The femoro- 

 tibial capsule and most of the lateral patellar ligament are removed. M, Lateral meniscus. 



patellar fibro-cartilage, and ends on the tuberosity of the tibia at the medial side of 

 the groove. It is joined by the common aponeurosis of the gracilis and sartorius, 

 and its proximal part furnishes insertion to fibers of the vastus medialis. These 

 so-called ligaments are, in reality, the tendons of insertion of the quadriceps 

 femoris and biceps femoris muscles, and transmit the action of the latter to the 

 tibia; they also function similarly for the other muscles attached to them as noted 

 above. 



It will be noticed that the proximal attachments are further apart than the distal ones, so 

 that the Ugaments converge below. The medial ligament is especially obHque. The middle 

 ligament is more deeply placed than the others, and therefore cannot usually be felt so distinctly 

 in the living animal. The lateral ligament is very largely the tendon of the anterior part of the 



