46 DESCRIPTION OF THE SKELETON. 



so well defined as the external : it extends from the neck of the bone to the 

 internal condyle ; it is rough at its upper part, where it may be said to 

 constitute the trochanter minor. 



The shaft of the bone measures seventeen inches around its smallest 

 part ; at the lowest, where it is the largest, thirty inches. 



The condyles are each about eight inches in extent from above down- 

 wards, and are terminated inferiorly by a ridge, which is the external 

 boundary of the articulation. On the forepart is the surface for the patella, 

 deeply grooved in its middle, and surrounded by lateral ridges : it measures 

 six inches across. The articulating surface of the condyles is flattened at 

 the sides, and grooved in the middle for the spine of the tibia. The entire 

 sweep of this articulating surface, from the superior extremity of the articu- 

 lation of the patella to the extremity of the articulation posteriorly, is fifteen 

 inches and a half. From side to side, it measures ten inches ; the external 

 condyle being lower than the internal. 

 p at eiia. The Leg. — The Patella (Plate XXV. Fig. 6) differs from that of 



most quadrupeds, in being nearly globular. Its anterior surface is ex- 

 cessively rough, and terminates inferiorly in a groove, three or four inches 

 in length, and one inch across : something similar, but less defined, is seen 

 at the upper extremity. The superior edge is prominent and well defined ; 

 the inferior has a projection or process for the ligament of the patella. The 

 articulating surface is divided almost equally by a vertical prominent ridge. 

 This surface is seven inches long, and six transversely. 

 •nbia. Tibia (Plate XXV. Fig. 5). — This bone has a general resemblance to 



the human. Its superior extremity is articulated with the os femoris to the 

 exclusion of the fibula, and presents corresponding surfaces with the former 

 bone, which measure fourteen inches across, and from before backwards 



