The =ligamentum teres=, or round ligament, is a very strong, short
ligament which passes from the depression in the head of the femur to
the bottom of the acetabulum.
=The Knee-joint= (Figs. 60 and 61).--The joint between the femur and the
tibia is very complex. The surfaces of the condyles of the femur do not
correspond to those of the condyles of the tibia. Between the ends of
the two bones are placed two disks of cartilage, the =menisci=, or
semilunar cartilages (Fig. 60, _c_ and _d_; Fig. 61, _a_ and _b_), of
such a form that the congruity of articular surfaces is restored. Each
meniscus has a proximal surface corresponding to the form of one of the
condyles of the femur, and a distal surface corresponding to a condyle
of the tibia. The menisci are held in position by ligaments. The
knee-joint permits not only backward and forward movement, but also a
small amount of rotary motion.
The joint has two =capsules=, one on the dorsal (convex) side, the other
on the ventral side. The two communicate only by a small passageway
lying within the joint between the ends of the bones. The dorsal one is
attached to the femur several millimeters proximad of the patellar
surface and some distance on each side of the latter. The patella is
imbedded in its outer wall, and it is attached to the tibia on the edges
of the articular surface of the latter, from the crest to the
tuberosities. The capsule is also attached laterally and medially to
the sides of the menisci, and is closely united to the patellar
ligaments. Its cavity contains a mass of yellow fat.
The ventral capsule is attached to the borders of the articular surfaces
of the femur and tibia on their ventral sides, to the menisci, and to
the epicondyles of the femur and the tuberosities of the tibia. Its
walls are stronger and its cavity smaller than those of the dorsal
capsule.
The ligaments of the knee-joint (Figs. 60 and 61), aside from the
capsules, may be classified into: (1) those which are connected with the
patella; (2) =collateral= ligaments (Fig. 60, _i_ and _j_), which pass
from the epicondyles directly distad along the sides of the joint to the
tibia or fibula; (3) =crucial= ligaments (Fig. 60, _g_ and _h_; Fig. 61,
_c_ and _d_), which cross within the joint from one side of the femur to
the opposite side of the tibia; (4) ligaments which hold the menisci in
place (Fig. 60, _e_ and _f_; Fig. 61, _e_ and _f_).
(1) LIGAMENTS OF THE PATELLA.--The patella is imbedded in the dorsal
wall of the dorsal capsule of the joint. From its distal end a strong
tendon or ligament passes distad to the crest of the tibia. This is
known as the =ligamentum patellæ=: it may be considered a part of the
tendon of M. quadriceps femoris. On the lateral side the capsule of the
joint is strengthened by the transverse fibres of the tendon of M.
plantaris, which aid in holding the patella in place.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account