Skip to main content

1830HildebrandtGF_WeberEH

 

The handbook records one of the early notions about the function of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF). This component is referred to as the "suspensory" ligament (Hångeband). The authors suggest that the LCF acts as a suspension for the thigh when the limb hangs freely without muscle tension. The ideas of E.H. Weber will be further developed by his brothers in the book "Mechanik dermenschlichen Gehwerkzeuge: eine anatomisch-physiologische Untersuchung" (1836). From our perspective, the LCF serves as a flexible suspension for the pelvis in the vertical position when supported on one leg.


Hildebrandt GF, Weber EH. Handbuch der anatomie des Menschen. Band 3. Schulbuchhandlung. Braunschweig: Verlag der Schulbuchhandlung, 1830. [fragment]

Quote pp. 292-293

Ligamentum teres (1). Um das Schenkelbein, wenn es herabhångt, noch fester zu halten, ist in der Höhle des Kapselbandes ein Hångeband angebracht, das man, weil es nach dem Schenkelkopfe zu rundlich wird, das runde Band nennt, das aber an der Pfanne dreieckig ist. Sein oberes Ende ist an dem innern Theile der Pfanne fest angeheftet, so, daß die innere obere Ecke desselben aus dem obern Winkel zwischen dem Rande der Pfanne und dem über den Ausschnitt hergespannten Querbande, die innere untere Ecke aus dem untern Winkel zwischen dem Rande der Pfanne und demselben Bande, die äußere Ecke aus dem untern innern Theile des Gewölbes der Pfanne an der Fett enthaltenden Masse der rauhen Grube entspringt. Von diesem obern Ende gegen den Schenkelkopf zu, wird es allmählig rundlicher und sein unteres Ende seht sich in der genannten Grube dieses Kopfs fest. Es dient die Bewegungen des Schenkelkopfs in der Pfanne in gewissen Richtungen einigermaßen einzuschränken und zu verhüten, daß er bei der Bewegung des Beins nicht zu weit aus der Pfanne herausweichen könne. Indessen ist es doch zu lang, um die Verrenkungen nach derjenigen Seite der Pfanne verhindern zu können, an welcher es angeheftet ist. In der That kann man, wenn man die Schenkelmuskeln durchschnitten hat, den Schenkelkopf, ohne das runde Band zu zerreissen, aus der Gelenkhöhle nach unten und innen herausziehen. Aber nach den übrigen Richtungen ist das nicht möglich. Paletta (2) hat Beobachtungen gesammelt, aus welchen hervorgeht, daß dieses Band auch bei Menschen fehlen könne, ohne daß sie eine Verrenkung des Knochens erleiden und ohne daß sie hinken. Das Labrum cartilaginum scheint noch nothwendiger zu sein, um den Schenkelkopf im Gelenke fest zu halten, als das runde Band.

An der Stelle, wo sich die Gelenkhaut zum runden Bande begiebt, um dasselbe zu überziehen, liegt unter der Gelenkhaut und in den Falten derselben eine beträchtliche Menge Gelenkfett.

Wenn das Bein in aufrechter Stellung fest steht und der Rumpf auf demselben ruht, so drückt sich der obere Theil der innern hohlen Fläche der Pfanne feft gegen die gewölbte Fläche des Schenkelkopfs, so, daß diese größtentheils von der Pfanne umschlossen wird. Auch ohne Feststellung des Beins können die Muskeln des Schenkels, wenn sie von allen Seiten sich aufwärts zusammenziehen, den Schenkelkopf in der Pfanne zurückhalten. In dieser Lage ist das Schenkelbein weniger beweglich. Wenn aber das Bein nicht fest sieht, sondern frei hångt, auch nicht von den Muskeln des Schenkels gegen die Pfanne gezogen wird, so kann, da die Långe des Kapselbandes und des Hångebandes es verstatten, sich die gewölbte Fläche des Schenkelkopfs von der innern hohlen Fläche der Pfanne etwas entfernen und wird, wenn das Schenkelbein herabhängt, durch die eigene Schwere desselben davon etwas abgezogen.

Die runde kuglige Beschaffenheit des Hüftgelenks, die Weite und Långe des Kapfelbandes und die Långe des Hångebandes verstatten dem Schenkelbeine eine hinlängliche Beweglichkeit. Man kann es vorwärts gegen den Bauch bewegen oder beugen, flectere, rückwårts bewegen oder ausstrecken, extendere, auswärts bewegen oder von dem andern abziehen, abducere, einwärts bewegen oder gegen das andere Bein anziehen, adducere, und durch die Verbindung dieser Bewegungen dasselbe trichterförmig bewegen, so, daß das untere Ende desselben einen Kreis beschreibt. Endlich aber kann der Schenkelknochen um eine Are gedreht werden, die seiner Långenare parallel ist. Durch Zusammensetzung dieser Bewegungen können noch viele andere Bewegungen auf die mannigfaltigste Weise geschehen, wie es die Bestimmung der Beine erfordert. Am stärksten kann die Beugung des Schenkels geschehen, so, daß die Knie ganz an den Bauch gezogen werden können, wie das z. B. schon bei der Frucht im Mutterleibe der Fall ist. Die dazu nöthige Drehung des Schenkelkopfs kann aber auch ohne eine Spannung des Hångebandes geschehen.

Es versteht sich von selbst, daß wenn der übrige Körper auf den Köpfen der Oberschenkelknochen ruht, und diese daher unbeweglicher find als er auch der Körper nach vorn, nach rechts und nach links gebogen oder auch nach hinten gezogen werden kann, und daß er sich auch um seine Långenare drehen kann. Unter diesen Umständen bewegen sich die Pfannen ebenso an den Köpfen der Oberschenkelknöchen wie im entgegengesezten Falle die Köpfe sich in den ruhenden Pfannen bewegen. Man kann auf diese Weise den auf den Schenkelköpfen ruhenden Körper fast um ebensoviel drehen als den Kopf auf den Halswirbeln. Für diesen Zweck der Drehung des übrigen Körpers` auf den Köpfen der Oberschenkelknochen ist es vortheilhaft, daß die Pfannen nicht so weit von einan der abstehen als die Gelenke der Oberarme, ferner daß der Hals der Oberschenkelknochen lang ist und nicht senkrecht, sondern schief steht, denn dadurch wird es möglich, daß zwischen dem Trochanter maior und dem Becken ziemlich lange Muskeln, welche eine sehr schiefe Lage haben und die also das Becken sammt dem übrigen Körper drehen können, Platz haben. 

1) Jean l'Admiral, ioon membranae vasculosae ad intima acetabuli ossium innominatorum positae. Amst. 1738. 8.

Thom. Schwenke, obs. anat. de acetabuli ligamento interno caput femoris firmante. Cum ejusd. haematologia. Hag. C. 1743. 8.

2) Paletta, Exercitationes pathologicae. Mediolani, 1820. p. 69; und in Meckels Archiv. B. VI. p. 343. Fälle, wo das runde Band fehlte, haben erzählt Sandifort, observationes anatomiae pathologicae. L. III. cap. 16. Salzman, in Halleri Diss. Vol. VII. Bonn, Thesaurus ossium morbosorum, p. 22. 43. 47. Caldani berichtete einen solchen auch Fall an Paletta.

Ligamentum teres (1). In order to hold the femur even more securely when it hangs down, a hanging [suspension] band is placed in the cavity of the capsule ligament, which is called the round ligament because it becomes too rounded around the femoral head, but it has a triangular shape in the socket. Its upper end is firmly attached to the inner part of the acetabular fossa so that its inner upper corner protrudes from the upper corner between the edge of the fossa and the transverse ligament stretched over the incision [acetabulum notch], the inner lower corner protrudes from the lower corner between the edge of the fossa and the same ligament, and the outer corner arises from the lower inner part of the vault of the fossa on the fat-containing mass of the rough pit. From this upper end towards the femoral head, it gradually becomes more rounded, and its lower end is fixed in the mentioned pit of head. It [ligamentum teres] serves to somewhat limit the movement of the femoral head in the acetabulum in certain directions and to prevent it from moving too far out of the socket when the leg moves. However, it is too long to prevent dislocations toward the side to which it is attached. In fact, it is possible to pull the femur out of the joint cavity downward and inward without tearing the round ligament if the muscles of the thigh are cut. But this is not possible in other directions. Paletta (2) has collected observations which indicate that this ligament may be absent in people without leading to bone dislocation or causing limping. The cartilaginous lip seems to be even more necessary to hold the femoral head in the joint than the round ligament.

Where the synovial membrane covers the round ligament, a significant amount of synovial fat is found beneath the synovial membrane and in its folds.

When the leg is in a vertical position and the torso rests on it, the upper part of the inner surface of the acetabulum closely presses against the convex surface of the femoral head, so that it is largely encompassed by the socket. Even without fixation of the leg, the muscles of the thigh, contracting from all sides upwards, can keep the femoral head in the acetabular socket. In this position, the femur is less mobile. However, if the leg is not fixed and simply hangs freely, and the thigh muscles do not pull it towards the acetabulum, the convex surface of the femoral head may slightly move away from the inner surface of the acetabulum, and when the femur hangs freely, it is slightly abducted from it under the influence of its own weight.

The round and spherical shape of the hip joint, the width and length of the capsule ligament, as well as the length of the suspensory ligament, provide sufficient mobility of the hip. It can be moved forward towards the abdomen or flexed, backward or extended, sideways or abducted, inward or adducted, and by combining these movements, it can be made conical so that its lower end describes a circle. Finally, the femur can be rotated around an axis parallel to its length. By combining these movements, many other movements can be performed in a variety of ways as required for leg function. The greatest degree of hip flexion is possible so that the knees can be pressed to the abdomen, as occurs, for example, with a fetus in the womb. However, for this rotation of the femoral head, it is also necessary to release tension from the suspensory ligament.

It goes without saying that if the rest of the body rests on the summits of the femurs, and they are therefore less mobile, then the body can also be bent forward, to the right, to the left, or backward, and it can also rotate around its long axis. Under these conditions, the acetabular fossae move around the femoral heads just as in the opposite case the heads move in the resting sockets. According to this principle, the body resting on the femoral heads can be rotated almost as much as the head can be turned on the cervical vertebrae. For this purpose of rotating the rest of the body on the summits of the femurs, it is useful for the acetabular fossae not to be as far apart as the shoulder joints, and for the neck of the femur to be long and inclined rather than vertical, as this allows for the placement of sufficiently long muscles between the greater trochanter and the pelvis, which can be in a very oblique position and thus rotate the pelvis along with the rest of the body. 

1) Jean l'Admiral, ioon membranae vasculosae ad intima acetabuli ossium innominatorum positae. Amst. 1738. 8.

Thom. Schwenke, obs. anat. de acetabuli ligamento interno caput femoris firmante. Cum ejusd. haematologia. Hag. C. 1743. 8.

2) Paletta, Exercitationes pathologicae. Mediolani, 1820. p. 69; und in Meckels Archiv. B. VI. p. 343. Cases where the round ligament was absent have been described by Sandifort [1779], observationes anatomiae pathologicae. L. III. cap. 16. Salzman [1725], in Halleri Diss. Vol. VII. Bonn, Thesaurus ossium morbosorum, p. 22. 43. 47. Caldani also reported one such case to Paletta. 




External links

Hildebrandt GF, Weber EH. Handbuch der anatomie des Menschen. Band 3. Schulbuchhandlung. Braunschweig: Verlag der Schulbuchhandlung, 1830. [archive.org , biodiversitylibrary.org , books.google]

Authors & Affiliations

Georg Friedrich Hildebrandt (1764-1816) was a pharmacist, chemist, and anatomist, professor of medicine, physics and chemistry in Erlangen, corresponding member of the Prussian Academy of Sciences. [wikipedia.org]

Georg Friedrich Hildebrandt.
Line engraving, unknown date, unknown author;
Original in the wikimedia.org collection (CC-BY-4.0, color correction)


Ernst Heinrich Weber (1795-1878) was an anatomist and physiologist, professor in Leipzige. [wikipedia.org]

Ernst Heinrich Weber (1856)
 Lithography by Rudolf Hoffmann, After a Photo by Schenk (Jena);
 Original in the wikimedia.org collection (CC0 – Public Domain, fragments)


Keywords

ligamentum capitis femoris, ligamentum teres, ligament of head of femur, anatomy, role, significance 

                                                                     .

NB! Fair practice / use: copied for the purposes of criticism, review, comment, research and private study in accordance with Copyright Laws of the US: 17 U.S.C. §107; Copyright Law of the EU: Dir. 2001/29/EC, art.5/3a,d; Copyright Law of the RU: ГК РФ ст.1274/1.1-2,7

ROLE AND SIGNIFICANCE

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

LCF in 2026 (May)

LCF in 2026 (May )  (Quotes from articles and books published in May   2026 mentioning the ligamentum capitis femoris)   Kim, P. S., Kang, C., Lee, J. K., & Hwang, J. M. (2026). Hip arthroscopy to treat symptomatic paralabral cysts: a retrospective analysis of clinical outcomes. Arthroscopy and Orthopedic Sports Medicine , 13 (1), 27-34.     [i]     e-aosm.org   Ko, H. Y. (2026). Vascular Anatomy of the Extremities and Lungs. In Practical Functional Anatomy for Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation: A Guide for Physiatrists and Rehabilitation Specialists (pp. 191-223). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore.      [ii] link.springer.com   Aiba, H., Yamaguchi, M., Kimura, H., & Murakami, H. (2026). Advances in limb-salvage surgery and reconstruction for pediatric bone and soft tissue tumors. Frontiers in Pediatrics , 14 , 1817788.      [iii]     pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov   Bajwa, A., Villar, R., ...

1990HarveyB

  Harvey B, sculpture, Jacob wrestling with the angel (ca. 1990).   Depicting the circumstances and mechanism of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) injury based on the description in the Book of Genesis:  25 And Ja cob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.  26 And when he saw that he could not pre vail against him, he struck against the hollow of his thigh ; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was put out of joint, as he was wrestling with him. … 33 Therefore do the children of Israel not eat the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day; because he struck against the hollow of Jacob's thigh on the sinew that shrank. ( 1922LeeserI , Genesis (Bereshit) 32:25-26,33) More about the plot in our work: Ninth month, eleventh day ( 2024АрхиповСВ. Девятый месяц, одиннадцатый день ). Bessie Harvey – tree root sculpture Jacob Wres tling with the Angel (ca. 1990); original in the high.org collection (Fair...

1132Sant’Orso

  Collegiate Church of Sant’Orso of Aosta (France), capital – Jacob with the Angel (1132).  Depicting the circumstances and mechanism of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) injury based on the description in the Book of Genesis: 25 And Ja cob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 26 And when he saw that he could not pre vail against him, he struck against the hollow of his thigh ; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was put out of joint, as he was wrestling with him. … 33 Therefore do the children of Israel not eat the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day; because he struck against the hollow of Jacob's thigh on the sinew that shrank. ( 1922LeeserI , Genesis (Bereshit) 32:25-26,33) More about the plot in our work: Ninth month, eleventh day ( 2024 АрхиповСВ. Девятый месяц, одиннадцатый день ).     Collegiate Church of Sant’Orso of Aosta (1132) Capital № 21 – Jacob with the Angel. О riginal ...

1943SinzWA

  Sinz WA , s culpture Jacob and the Angel (1943).   Depicting the circumstances and mechanism of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) injury based on the description in the Book of Genesis:  25 And Ja cob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.  26 And when he saw that he could not pre vail against him, he struck against the hollow of his thigh ; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was put out of joint, as he was wrestling with him. … 33 Therefore do the children of Israel not eat the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day; because he struck against the hollow of Jacob's thigh on the sinew that shrank. ( 1922LeeserI , Genesis (Bereshit) 32:25-26,33) More about the plot in our work: Ninth month, eleventh day ( 2024АрхиповСВ. Девятый месяц, одиннадцатый день ). Walter A. Sinz – Jacob and the Angel (1943). Ceramic. Gift of Hilda Kisella (2007.187) ; original in clevelandart.org   collect...

Vertebrates

VERTEBRATES According to the molecular clock, a specific method for dating phylogenetic events, vertebrates (Vertebrata) separated from arthropods (Arthropoda) 976±97 Ma (2004HedgesSB_ShoeJL). The latter began to dominate in species diversity with the Cambrian burst of radiation, which occurred 520 Ma (2010EdgecombeGD). This ratio in the fauna of the Earth is still preserved. Approximately 525 Ma, the phylum Chordates separated from the group of bilaterally symmetrical animals (1995ChenJY_ZhouGQ). In turn, the evolution of chordate organisms led to the formation of the first vertebrates at least 500 Ma, from which the jawed mouths 450-400 Ma descended, becoming the ancestors of the placoderms or "armored" fish (Placodermi) (1979 НаумовНП _ КарташевНН ). Sculptural reconstruction of the placoderm Coccosteus from the order Arthrodires, Middle Devonian, 393.3-382.7  Ma ; exposition of the Orlov Paleontological Museum (Moscow); photo by the author. The first cartilaginou...

BLOG CONTENT

  T he ligament of the head of femur or ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) is the key to a graceful gait and understanding the causes of hip joint diseases. We present promising scientific knowledge necessary for preserving health,  to create new implants and techniques  of treating degenerative  pathology and damage of the hip joint. Project objective : preserving a normal gait and quality of life, helping to study of hip joint biomechanics, developing effective treatments for its diseases and injuries. In translating to English, the author is assisted by ChatGPT (version 3.5)  and the Google Translate service .  We're sorry for any flaws in the syntax. The meaning makes up for the imperfections!     TABLES OF CONTENTS    Acetabular Canal   (Anatomy, topography and significance of the functioning area of ​​the ligamentum capitis femoris) Acetabular Canal.  Part 1.   This article describes the space where the ligam...

2008ArkhipovSV

  On the Role of the Ligamentum Capitis Femoris  in the Maintenance of Different Types of Erect Posture S.V. Arkhipov Keywords: ligamentum capitis femoris, ligamentum teres, ligament of head of femur, abductor muscle group, role,  function, hip joint, model, biomechanics, walk, gait cycle, single-legged stance  ABSTRACT New experimental and clinical data on the function of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) and its participation in maintaining an erect posture were obtained. It was established that this anatomical element is involved in constraining the hip joint adduction and may fi x the joint in the frontal plane, turning it into an analogue of a second-class lever. In both unstrained one-support and asymmetrical two-support orthostatic postures, when the LCF is stretched and the abductor muscle group is exerted, a load equal to the body weight is evenly distributed between the upper and lower hemispheres of the caput femoris. In addition, the LCF fu...

Human Children. Retelling of Chapter 6

  Short retelling of chapter 6 of the essay: Arkhipov S.V. Human Children: The Origins of Biblical Legends from a Physician's Perspective. Joensuu: Author's Edition, 2025. [In Russian]  Chapter 6. THE GARDEN OF EDEN According to the Book of Genesis, humanity’s earliest ancestors emerged "in the garden of Eden." The text specifies that this idyllic garden was located "in Eden, toward the east." A nameless river flowed from Eden, irrigating the garden, suggesting that "Eden" encompasses a broader region, while the "garden in Eden" is a distinct, cultivated space. Genesis portrays the garden as a divine plantation, established by "Lord God," with humans tasked to tend and maintain it. The garden teemed with diverse trees, including fruit-bearing ones, and later hosted birds, wild animals, and domesticated livestock. Alongside humans, it harbored supernatural beings like cherubim (kyruvy), a serpent, and other divine entities. A s...

2025ArkhipovSV. Why Acetabular Labrum Repair May Be Ineffective

  Original in Russian is available at the link:   С.В. Архипова «Почему восстановление вертлужной губы может быть неэффективно?» (06.04.2025) , below is a machine translation edited by a non-native speaker (version dated 06/04/2025). Thematic Internet Journal About round ligament of femur April 2025 WHY ACETABULAR LABRUM REPAIR MAY BE INEFFECTIVE?: A NOTE ON THE MYSTERIOUS "DARK MATTER" OF THE HIP JOINT S.V. Arkhipov, Independent Researcher, Joensuu, Finland Abstract Acetabular labrum repair and reconstruction do not prevent hip joint instability during gait and the development of osteoarthritis in the case of an elongated ligamentum capitis femoris. This conclusion is based on mathematical calculations and analysis of experiments conducted on a mechanical hip joint model. Keywords : arthroscopy, hip joint, acetabular labrum, ligamentum capitis femoris, ligamentum teres, ligament of head of femur , reconstruction, repair Introduction Nearly 80% of primary hip ar...

20c.WikstromB

  Wikstrom B , s culpture I will not let you go» (Jacob wrestling the Angel , 20th cent.?) .   Depicting the circumstances and mechanism of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) injury based on the description in the Book of Genesis:  25 And Ja cob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.  26 And when he saw that he could not pre vail against him, he struck against the hollow of his thigh ; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was put out of joint, as he was wrestling with him. … 33 Therefore do the children of Israel not eat the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day; because he struck against the hollow of Jacob's thigh on the sinew that shrank. ( 1922LeeserI , Genesis (Bereshit) 32:25-26,33) More about the plot in our work: Ninth month, eleventh day ( 2024АрхиповСВ. Девятый месяц, одиннадцатый день ). Brit Wikstrom – « I will not let you go» (Jacob wrestling the Angel , 20th?) . O riginal in gg...