Skip to main content

1738LadmiralJ

 

The first illustration and description of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) in an infant. The basis of the drawing was a specimen from the collection of anatomist Frederik Ruysch. Jean l'Admiral characterizes the LCF as a rigid cartilaginous structure (ligamentum nerveo-cartilagineum) with good blood supply. In the description, provided in Latin, French, and Dutch, the author references Frederik Ruysch's monograph «Adversarium anatomico-medico-chirurgicorum decas secunda» (1720), see Tab. III., Fig. III. 


l'Admiral J. Icon membranae vasculosae ad infima acetabuli ossium innominatorum positae, … Amstelodami?, MDCCXXXVIII [1738].

  

Quote p. 2 [Latin]

ICON MEMBRANÆ VASCULOSÆ AD INFIMA ACETABULI OSSIUM INNOMINATORUM Pofitæ, ex puero defumta; ad objectum artificiofiffimè præparatum à CLARISSIMO VIRO FRED. RUYSCHIO, Med: Doct. Anatomes & Botanices Profeffore &c. Delineata, & coloribus diftincta typis impreffa À JOANNE LADMIRAL Proftat AMSTELODAMI Apud JACOBUM GRAAL & HENRICUM DE LETH, Lugduni Batavorum Apud THEODORUM ΗΑΑΚ. MDCCXXXVIII.

IMAGE OF THE VASCULAR MEMBRANE AND INTIMA OF THE ACETABULAR CAVITY OF THE INNOMINATE BONE

Made from the corpse of an infant; skillfully prepared by the famous person FREDERICK RUYSCH, Doctor of Medicine, Professor of Anatomy and Botany, etc. Illustrated and colored by JOHANN ADMIRAL Sold in Amsterdam by JACOB GRAAL AND HENRY DE LETH, in Leiden by THEODORE HAAK. 1738

EXPLICATIO FIGURE

Exhibentis membranulam vafculofam ad infima acetabuli offium innominatorum pofitam; ex Puero defumtam, coloribus iisdem, quibus methodo Ruyfchianâ præparata fuperbit, typis impreffam. 

Res annotatu dignae, funt fequentes.

A. A. A. Portio offium innominatorum, quæ fubjacens hic confunditur mole carneâ rubrâ, a mufculis optimè repletis, hincque fummè rubentibus, relictâ.

B. Acetabulum offium innominatorum, cavo fuo excipiens caput offis femoris, extra fitum hic pofitum, ut interna paterent. 

C. Ligamentum nerveo-cartilagineum, caput offis femoris nectens acetabuli cavo, cinctum undique vafis fanguineis. 

D. Arteriola membranæ ad infima acetabuli fitæ, Hæc membrana, tenuiffimá, contexta ex mirabili vaforum fanguineorum apparatu, non obducit totum acetabulum, fed tantum ejus partem: locum enim habet extra fphæricam acetabuli cavitatem, femoris capiti globofo congruentem, ad infima acetabuli quafi in diverticulo, ita ut caput offis femoris, mobile intra dictam cavitatem, nullâ parte fuæ fuperficiei unquam poffit attingere hanc membranulam, ejusque vafoula, hinc præcavetur attritus perpetuus membranæ, & deftructio tenellorum horum vaforum, unde dolores, inflammationes, fuppurationes, aliaque mala sequerentur, uti eleganter obfervavit Celeberrimus Ruyfchins in Adverfariorum decade fecundâ. 

E. Lineæ, denotantes compofitionem acetabuli extribas offibus, nempe ilii, ifchii, & pubis, quæ juncta fimul conftituunt dic tum acetabulum, in adultis verò hæc apparentia difparet. 

F. Caput offis femoris. 

G. Collum offis femoris. 

H. Trochanter majors

I. Inferior femoris pars abfciffa. 

* Vafa fanguinea per femur diftributa.

 

EXPLANATION OF THE IMAGE

Representing the vascular membrane located in the lower part of the acetabulum of the nameless bone of the pelvis; made from the corpse of an infant, colored with the same hues as per Ruysch's method, and printed in typography. 

The noteworthy details are as follows: 

A. A. A. The portion of the nameless bone, which here blends with the red fleshy mass, well filled with muscles, and hence very red. 

B. The acetabulum of the nameless bone, accommodating the head of the femur, placed here externally to provide access to the internals. 

C. The rigid-cartilaginous ligament connecting the head of the femur to the acetabulum of the pelvis, surrounded by vessels. 

D. The arterial network of the membrane in the lower part of the acetabulum. This membrane, very thin and composed of an astonishing system of vessels, does not cover the entire acetabulum but only a portion of it: it is situated outside the spherical cavity of the acetabulum, in contact with the head of the femur at its lower part, in a diverticulum of the acetabulum, so that the head of the femur, moving within this cavity, never touches this membrane and its vessels, thus preventing constant friction of the membrane and destruction of delicate vessels, which could lead to pain, inflammation, suppuration, and other discomforts, as clearly noted by the renowned Ruysch in the second decade of his Notes. 

E. Lines denoting the structure of the acetabulum from the external bones: ilium, ischium, and pubis, which together constitute the said acetabulum, but in adults, these features disappear. 

F. Head of the femur. 

G. Neck of the femur. 

H. Greater trochanter of the femur. 

I. Severed lower part of the thigh. 

* Vascular network distributed throughout the thigh.

Quote p. 3 [French]

EXPLICATION DE LA FIGURE

Reprefentant la petite Membrane vafculeufe, fitué dans la partie d'en bas de la Cavité des Os innominé, tiré d'un pitit Garçon, imprimé avec la preffe & les mêmes Couleures, dont l'objet, (etant preparé felon l'Art de Monfieur Ruyfch) eft orné. 

Les Chofes les plus remarquables font les fuivantes. 

A.A.A. Une partie des Os innominé, la quelle etant au deffous, eft embaraffé par un Mas de Chair, le quel eft un Refte des Muscles tres-bien Injecté, & qui pour cette Raifon paroit Rouge. 

B. La pitite cavité des os innominé recevant dans fa Concavité la tête de L'os femur, étant mis hors de fa place, afin que l'interieure pareffe Clairement. 

C. La bande nerveufe & Cartilageufe, qui attache le chef de l'os femur à la fusdite cavité, entouré des touts cotéz par des Vaiffeaux. 

D. Les petites Arteres de la membrane, fitué au fond de la cavité. Cette tres-fine membrane compofé des Vaiffeaux fanguinaire, les site quelles pareffent d'une maniere Merveilleufe, ne couvre pas la cavite entierement, mais feulement en partie: Car elle eft placé dans la cavité hors de la concavité Circulaire, & s'emboite avec la Tête fpherique de l'os femur au fond de la cavité, comme dans une retraite, en forte que la tête de l'os femur, etant mobile dans la fusdite concavité, jamais aucune partie des fa Superficie peut toucher cette Membrane, ni aucun de ces vaiffeaux. Ainfi eft prevenu un frottément continuelle de la petite membrane, & un brisement des ces tendre Vaiffeaux, d'où il fanfaivroit des Douleurs, inflammations, putrefactions & autres fortes d'accidents, comme les tres-fameux Proff. Ruifch a remarqué exactement, dans la deuxiême partie des fes dix Annotations.

E. Lignes, defignant une ajuitement de la cavité confistant en trois Os, nommément l'os Ilion, l'os Ifchion & l'os Pubis, les quelles, étant joint ensemble, forme la cavité; mais aux perfonnes d'ages, il paroit n'être que d'un Os fimple. 

F. Le Chef de l'os femur.

G. Le Cou de l'os femur. 

H. Le Trochanter Major. 

I. La Partie d'en bas de l'os femur, coupée. 

* Les Vaifleaux fanguinaire difperfé par l'os femur.

EXPLANATION OF THE FIGURE

Depicting a small vascular membrane situated at the bottom of the cavity of the innominate bone, taken from the cadaver of a young boy, printed using the same methods and colors commonly employed in Ruysch's method. 

The most notable details are as follows: 

A. A. A. Part of the innominate bone, located below, encased in a mass of flesh, remnants of muscles, very well injected and thus appearing red. 

B. The small cavity of the innominate bone, in which the head of the femur is housed, displaced from its position to allow for clear visibility of the interior. 

C. The tough cartilaginous bundle connecting the head of the femur to the cavity of the innominate bone, surrounded on all sides by vessels. 

D. The small arteries of the membrane, located at the bottom of the cavity. This very thin membrane, composed of vessels arranged wonderfully, does not cover the entire cavity, only a part of it: it is situated in the cavity outside the spherical hollow of it, connecting with the spherical head of the femur at the bottom of the cavity, almost like in a separate chamber, so that the head of the femur, moving within this cavity, never comes into contact with this membrane or its vessels, thereby preventing constant friction of the membrane and the destruction of its delicate vessels, which could lead to pain, inflammation, suppuration, and other discomforts, as extensively noted by the renowned professor Ruysch in the second part of his ten annotations. 

E. Lines indicating the structure of the cavity consisting of three bones, namely the ilium, ischium, and pubis, joined together to form the said cavity, but in adults, these features disappear. 

F. Head of the femur. 

G. Neck of the femur. 

H. Greater trochanter of the femur. 

I. Severed lower part of the femur. 

* Blood vessels distributed throughout the femur.

Quote p. 4 [Dutch]

UYTLEGGING van de AFBEELDING. 

Vertonende het vaatagtige vliesje, leggende in 't onderfte gedeelte van de pan van de ongenaamde beenderen, genomen uyt een Jongetje, door de Pers gedrukt met dezelfde couleuren, daar het voorwerp, volgens de Ruyffiaanfche konft bereit zynde, mede pronkt. 

De merkwaardigfte zaken zyn de volgende 

A. A. A. Een gedeelte van de ongenaamde beenderen, 't welk, onderleggende, alhier belemmert wort door een vleezige klomp, van de zeer wel opgevulde, en daarom zeer root zich vertonende, fpieren overgebleven. 

B. Het pannetje van de ongenaamde beenderen, in zyne holligheit ontfangende het hooft van 't dybeen, alhier buyten zyn plaats geftelt, op dat het inwendige klaar blyken zoude. 

C. De Zenuwagtige kraakbeenige bant, het hooft van 't dybeen hegtende aan de gemelde pan, van alle kanten met vaten omringt. 

D. De flagadertjes van 't vlies in't onderfte van de pan gelegen. Dit zeer dunne vliesje, geweven uyt een wonderbaarlyke verfchyning van bloetvaten, bekleet de gehele pan niet, alleenlyk voor een gedeelte: want het heeft zyn plaats in de pan buyten de kringronde holligheit van dezelve, paffende met het bolronde hooft van 't dybeen, onder in de pan als in een vertrekje gelegen, zo dat het hooft van 't dybeen, beweegbaar binnen de gezegde holligheit, nooit met eenig gedeelte van zyne oppervlakte dit vlies en deszelfs vaatjes kan aanraken, waardoor voorgekomen wort een geftadige vryving van 't vliesje, en een verbryzeling van deze tedere vaatjes, uyt welke pynen, ontstekingen, veretteringen, en andere ongemakken zoude volgen, gelykerwys de zeer Beroemde Ruysch in 't tweede tiental van zyne Aantekeningen naauwkeurig aangemerkt heeft. 

E. Strepen, betekenende een t'zamenstelling van de pan uyt drie beenderen, namentlyk het darm, zit of heupe, en 't fchaambeen, dewelke vereenigt zynde t'zamen deze pan uytmaken; maar in bejaarde menfchen fchynt dezelve uyt een enkel been te beftaan. 

F. Het hooft van 't dybeen. 

G. De hals van 't dybeen. 

H. De grote drayer. 

I. Het onderfte gedeelte van 't dybeen, afgefneden. 

* De bloedvaten door 't dybeen verfpreit.

EXPLANATION OF THE FIGURE. 

The illustration depicts a vascular membrane located in the lower part of the acetabulum of the innominate bones, taken from the body of a boy, printed using the same colors commonly used in the Ruysch method. 

The most remarkable points are as follows: 

A. A. A. A portion of the innominate bones, situated below, is encased in a mass of muscles, remnants of which are very well infused and therefore appear very red. 

B. The cavity of the innominate bones, receiving the head of the femur, displaced from its position to make the interior clear. 

C. Neurocartilaginous ligament connecting the head of the femur with the indicated cavity, surrounded by vessels on all sides. 

D. The small arteries of the membrane, located at the bottom of the cavity. This very thin membrane, composed of vessels arranged wonderfully, does not cover the entire cavity, only a part of it: it is situated in the cavity outside the spherical hollow of it, connecting with the spherical head of the femur at the bottom of the cavity, almost like in a separate chamber, so that the head of the femur, moving within this cavity, never comes into contact with this membrane or its vessels, thereby preventing constant friction of the membrane and the destruction of its delicate vessels, which could lead to pain, inflammation, suppuration, and other discomforts, as extensively noted by the renowned professor Ruysch in the second part of his ten annotations. 

E. Lines denoting the composition of the cavity from three bones, namely the ilium, ischium, and pubis, joined together to form this cavity; however, in adults, these features disappear. 

F. The head of the femur. 

G. The neck of the femur. 

H. The greater trochanter. 

I. The severed lower part of the femur. 

* Blood vessels distributed throughout the femur. 

 


External links

l'Admiral J. Icon membranae vasculosae ad infima acetabuli ossium innominatorum positae, … Amstelodami?, MDCCXXXVIII [1738]. [wellcomecollection.org , archive.org , books.google] 

Authors & Affiliations 

Joanne Ladmiral (1698/99-1773) was a painter, engraver, and book illustrator from the northern Netherlands. [wikipedia.org , portal.dnb.de] 

Jan l'Admiral
 Self-portrait of the artist (1738-1773);
original in the 
wikimedia.org collection (CC0 – Public Domain, color correction).

Frederik Ruysch (1638–1731) was a Dutch botanist and anatomist, a praelector of the Amsterdam surgeon's guild, a professor of botany in the Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam. [wikipedia.org]

Portrait of Frederik Ruysch (1694)
The author of the image is Juriaen Poo;
original in the 
wikipedia.org collection (CC0 – Public Domain, color correction)


Keywords

ligamentum capitis femoris, ligamentum teres, ligament of head of femur, anatomy, child, image, blood supply, vascularization

                                                                     

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


BLOG CONTENT

IMAGES AND VIDEOS

SCIENTIFIC SYNONYMS


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

LCF in 2025 (November)

  LCF in 2025 ( November )   (Quotes from articles and books published in  October  2025 mentioning the ligamentum capitis femoris)   Awad, A., Rizk, A., ElAlfy, M., Hamed, M., Abdelghany, A. M., Mosbah, E., ... & Karrouf, G. (2025). Synergistic Effects of Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles and Platelet Rich Fibrin on Femoral Head Avascular Necrosis Repair in a Rat Model.  Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials ,  113 (11), e35672.    [i]    onlinelibrary.wiley.com   Loughzail, M. R., Aguenaou, O., Fekhaoui, M. R., Mekkaoui, J., Bassir, R. A., Boufettal, M., ... & Lamrani, M. O. (2025). Posterior Fracture–Dislocation of the Femoral Head: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.  Sch J Med Case Rep ,  10 , 2483-2486.     [ii]    saspublishers.com  ,  saspublishers.com   Vertesich, K., Noebauer-Huhmann, I. M., Schreiner, M., Schneider, E., Willegger,...

1836-1840PartridgeR

  «Prof. Partridge in his lectures on anatomy at King's College was accustomed to compare the Ligamentum Teres, in its function, to the leathern straps by which the body of a carriage is suspended on springs » ( 1874SavoryWS ). Perhaps Nikolai Pirogov listened to these lectures ( 1859PirogoffN ).   The analogy that Richard Partridge used could have arisen after reading the monograph Bell J. The Principles of Surgery (1801) . In it, the author depicted a cart and a pelvis resting on the head of one and two femurs. However, there is no mention of ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) in the chart descriptions. References Savory WS. On the use of the ligamentum teres of the hip joint. J Anat Physiol. 1874;8(2)291-6.    [ ncbi.nlm.nih.gov  ,    archive.org ] Pirogoff N. Anatome topographica sectionibus per corpus humanum congelatum triplici directione ductus illustrate. Petropoli: Typis Jacobi Trey, 1859.   [ books.google  ,   archive.org ] ...

1996(r)ArkhipovSV

    METHOD OF PELVIS OSTEOTOMY (Способ остеотомии таза) Patent Application RU96120699A Inventor Сергей Васильевич Архипов Original Assignee Sergey Vasilyevich Arkhipov Application RU96120699/14A events 1996-10-01 Application filed by С . В . Архипов 1999-01-20 Publication of RU96120699A Claims The method of pelvic osteotomy by complete intersection of the ilium above the capsule and acetabulum, characterized in that after arthrotomy of the hip joint the hip bones additionally intersect in front and behind the acetabulum, as well as above it between the capsule and limb, with the displacement of the formed intermediate fragment laterally and osteosynthesis fragments, in addition, plastic or prosthetics of the ligament of the femoral head can be performed, and an osteograft can be fixed over the intermediate fragment. Description of the invention Description in Russian is available at the link: 1996(r) АрхиповСВ (the blog has a translation function)....

1849SantessonC

  Fragment from the book Santesson C. Om höftleden och ledbrosken uti anatomiskt, pathologiskt och chirurgiskt hänseende, jemte en kritisk öfversigt öfver några bland inflammations-lärans vigtigaste punkter (1849). The author reviews the anatomy, role and development of the of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF).  The text is prepared for machine translation using a service built into the blog from Google. Quote pp. 30-36. Ligamentum prismaticum är först beskrifvet af VESALIUS. Det har oriktigt och sannolikt endast till följe af en felaktig undersökning fått den ännu gängse benämningen: lig. teres. s. rotundum. Fullständigt prepareradt visar det sig hafva en triangulär form, hvarföre ock ligament-lärans utmärktaste bearbetare, WEITBRECHT, med afseende på fibrernes koniska anordning i detsamma kallade det ligamentum prismaticum, som dock ännu ej förmått uttränga den gamla, och derföre häfdvunna, ehuru falska benämningen. Denna triangel har sin spets uti fovea capitis femoris o...

INFERIOR PORTAL FOR HIP ARTHROSCOPY

  Combined PDF version of the article: Arkhipov SV. Arkhipov SV. Inferior Portal for Hip A rthroscopy: A Pilot Experimental Study. This page contains a photocopy of the publication. The links for downloading the PDF version and the addresses of the online versions are given below.  The original in Russian is available at the link: Нижний портал для артроскопии тазобедренного сустава . 

1679ChartierR

  Fragment from the book Chartier R. (Ed). Operum Hippocratis Coi et Galeni Pergameni archiatron tomus XII (1679). Part of the treatise «Instruments of Reductions» (Mochlicus, Vectiarius) by Hippocrates in Latin and Greek with the mention of ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF). The text is prepared for machine translation using a service built into the blog from Google or your web browser. For a translation of the passage into English, see the link: 1886AdamsF . Quote pp. 536-537. HIPPOCRATIS. MOCHLICUS, SEV VECTIARIUS. Caput I.  Ossa hunc in modum a natura sunt coparata. Digitorum quidem, tum ossiu, tum articulorum, simplex est junctura. In manu vero & pede, cum multa alia varie connectuntur, tu maxima sunt quae supremo loco committuntur. Calcis unum os est, quale foras prominet, quo etiam a posteriore parte tedines tendunt. Tibiae duo ossa sunt supra & infra coherentia, medio vero loco distantia. Quod exterius tendit, parvum & juxta parvum digitum paulo tenuius. Plu...

1802CamperP

    Content [i]   Annotation [ii]   Original text (French ) [iii]   Illustrations [iv]   Source  &  links [v]   Notes [vi]   Authors & Affiliations [vii]   Keywords [i]   Annotation Fragments from the book: Camper P. Description anatomique d'un éléphant mâle (1802). The author discusses the absence and unknown role of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) in the elephant and some monkeys. The text in Russian is available at the following link: 1802CamperP . [ii]   Original text (French) Original text Quote p. 70. Le fémur ne tient pas dans la cavité cotyloïde par le moyen d’un ligament rond, comme celui de l’homme ; les enfoncemens n’en sont visibles dans la tête d’aucune des espèces que nous avons examinées. Peut-être ce ligament est-il particulièrement nécessaire à l’homme dans la position verticale du corps ? du moins l’orang-outang, le pongo et d’autres mammifères quadrumanes n’en ont pas d’analogue.   Quot...

1853KnoxR

  We publish selected quotations about ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) from Knox  R.  Manual of Human Anatomy (1853). The author points out that LCF is a thick and dense bundle of fibers. It is attached to the edges of the acetabular notch and intertwined with the fibers of the fibrocartilaginous ring of the acetabulum. Robert Knox writes: « The functions of the round ligament have not been satisfactorily determined.» Quote p. 142 Fig. 104. - This instructive section of the hip-joint requires little or no explanation. - d points to the superior part of the capsular ligament. Fig. 105. - Capsular ligament of the hip-joint; also Poupart's ligament. - a , the capsular ligament; b , the oblique, or accessory ligament of the joint; d , attachment of the external pillar of Poupart's ligament to the tubercle of the pubis; e , deep structures immediately behind that portion of Poupart's ligament, called the ligament of Gimbernat; c , ligamentum obturatorium.   Quo...

LCF Mechanics

   Mechanics   OF THE  Ligamentum Capitis Femoris Announcement: A new scientific direction « Mechanics of the Ligamentum Capitis Femoris» has been formed.   Definition: A section of physiology that develops issues of applying the doctrine of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF), its movements and forces to solving medical and biological problems.   Synonyms: LCF Mechanics Mechanics of the Ligamentum Capitis Femoris Ligamentum Capitis Femoris Mechanics Ligament of the Head of Femur Mechanics L igamentum Teres Femoris Mechanics Round Ligament of Femur Mechanics   Postulates of LCF Mechanics: Strong, flexible, and non-stretchable with specific attachment points. Limits adduction, rotation, and cranial displacement of the femur. Shunts load on the femoral head and the abductor muscle group of the hip joint. Ensures rhythmicity, symmetry, and energy efficiency of walking. Performs the function to suspend the pelvis during single-leg support.   T...

LCF in 2025 (June)

  LCF in 2025 ( June )   (Quotes from articles and books published in June 2025 mentioning the ligamentum capitis femoris)   Kuhns, B. D., Kahana-Rojkind, A. H., Quesada-Jimenez, R., McCarroll, T. R., Kingham, Y. E., Strok, M. J., ... & Domb, B. G. (2025). Evaluating a semiquantitative magnetic resonance imaging-based scoring system to predict hip preservation or arthroplasty in patients with an intact preoperative joint space.  Journal of Hip Preservation Surgery , hnaf027.    [i]     academic.oup.com   Iglesias, C.  J. B., García, B. E. C., & Valarezo, J. P. P. (2025) CONTROLLED GANZ DISLOCATION.   EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR) - Peer Reviewed Journal. 11(5)1410-13. DOI: 10.36713/epra2013    [ii]       researchgate.net   Guimarães, J. B., Arruda, P. H., Cerezal, L., Ratti, M. A., Cruz, I. A., Morimoto, L. R., ... & Ormond Filho, A. G. (2025). Hip Microins...