Skip to main content

1867GrayH

 

Fragments from the book Gray H. Anatomy, descriptive and surgical (1867). The selected passages of the "classical" anatomy of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) and original illustrations of Henry Carter. 


Quote pp. 153-154

The cotyloid cavity, or acetabulum, is a deep, cup-shaped, hemispherical depression, formed, internally, by the pubes; above, by the ilium; behind and below, by the ischium; a little less than two-fifths being formed by the ilium, a little more than two-fifths by the ischium, and the remaining fifth by the pubes. It is bounded by a prominent uneven rim, which is thick and strong above, and serves for the attachment of a fibro-cartilaginous structure, which contracts its orifice, and deepens the surface for articulation. It presents on its inner side a deep notch, the cotyloid notch, which transmits the nutrient vessels into the interior of the joint, and is continuous with a circular depression at the bottom of the cavity; this depression is perforated by numerous apertures, lodges a mass of fat, and its margins serve for the attachment of the ligamentum teres. The notch is converted, in the natural state, into a foramen by a dense ligamentous band which passes across it. Through this foramen, the nutrient vessels and nerves enter the joint.


Quote p. 158

The head, which is globular, and forms rather more than a hemisphere, is directed upwards, inwards, and a little forwards, the greater part of its convexity being above and in front. Its surface is smooth, coated with cartilage in the recent state, and presents, a little behind and below its centre, an ovoid depression, for the attachment of the ligamentum teres. 

Fig. 103. — Right Femur. Anterior Surface. [fragment]


Quote p. 221

1. Hip-joint (fig. 138). This articulation is an enarthrodial or ball-and-socket joint, formed' by the reception of the head of the femur into the cup-shaped cavity of the acetabulum. The articulating surfaces are covered with cartilage, that on the head of the femur being thicker at the centre than at the circumference, and covering the entire surface with the exception of a depression just below its centre for the ligamentum teres; that covering the acetabulum is much thinner at the centre than at the circumference, being deficient in the situation of the circular depression at the bottom of this cavity. The ligaments of the joint are the Capsular. Teres. Ilio-femoral. Cotyloid. Transverse.

Fig. 138. — Left Hip-joint laid open.


Quote p. 222

The Ligamentum Teres is a triangular band of fibres, implanted, by its apex, into the depression a little behind and below the centre of the head of the femur; and by its broad base, which consists of two bundles of fibres, into the margins of the notch at the bottom of the acetabulum, becoming blended with the transverse ligament. It is formed of a bundle of fibres, the thickness and strength of which are very variable, surrounded by a tubular sheath of synovial membrane. Sometimes, the synovial fold only exists, or the ligament may be altogether absent. The use of the round ligament is to check rotation outwards, when combined with flexion: it thus assists in preventing dislocation of the head of the femur forwards and outwards, an accident likely to occur from the necessary mechanism of the joint, if not provided against by this ligament and the thick anterior part of the capsule. (1)

1) See an interesting paper, "On the Use of the Round Ligament of the Hip-joint," by Dr. J. Struthers. Edinburgh Medical Journal, 1858.

The Synovial Membrane is very extensive. Commencing at the margin of the cartilaginous surface of the head of the femur, it covers all that portion of the neck which is contained within the joint; from this point it is reflected on the internal surface of the capsular ligament, covers both surfaces of the cotyloid ligament, and the mass of fat contained in the fossa at the bottom of this cavity, and is prolonged in the form of a tubular sheath around the ligamentum teres, as far as the head of the femur.

 

External links

Gray H. Anatomy, descriptive and surgical; the drawings by H.V. Carter; the dissections jointly by the author and Dr. Carter. Philadelphia: Henry C. Lea, 1867. [hdl.handle.net]

Authors & Affiliations

Henry Gray (1825-1861) was a British anatomist and surgeon. [wikipedia.org] 

Henry Gray
Author: H. Pollock, unknown date;
original in the 
wikimedia.org collection (CC BY 4.0, no changes).

Henry Vandyke Carter (1831-1897) was an English anatomist, surgeon, and anatomical artist. [wikipedia.org]

 

Henry Vandyke Carter (ca. 1870)
Author: Henry Vandyke Carter;
original in the 
wikimedia.org collection (CC0 – Public Domain, no changes).

Keywords

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

                                                                     

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

MORPHOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

NEWS 2026

New publications of our resource   in 2026 The initial phase of collecting data on LCF, accumulated prior to the 20th century, is largely complete. Next, we plan to analyze and synthesize thematic information, adding data from the 20th and 21st centuries. The work will focus primarily on: prevention, diagnosis, arthroscopy, plastic surgery, and endoprosthetics.  January 05, 2026 2018YoussefAO The article describes a method for transposition of the proximal attachment of the LCF in congenital hip dislocation.   2007WengerD_OkaetR The authors demonstrated in the experiment that the strength of the LCF is sufficient to ensure early stability during hip joint reconstruction in children. January 04, 2026 2008 BacheCE _TorodeIP The article describes a method for transposition of the proximal attachment of the LCF in congenital hip dislocation .  2021PaezC_WengerDR The ar ticle analyzes the results of open reconstruction of LCF in dysplasia.   2008DoddsMK...

IMPROVING POSTOPERATIVE COMFORT...

  Enhancing  Posto perative Comfort and Increasing the Reliability of Hip Prostheses by Supplementing with Artificial Ligaments: Proof of Concept and Prototype Demonstration S.V. Arkhipov, Independent Researcher, Joensuu, Finland       CONTENT [i]   Abstract [ii]   Introduction [iii]   Materials and Methods [iv]   Results and Discussion [v]   Static Tests [vi]   Dynamic Tests [vii]   Prototype Fabrication and Testing [viii]   Conclusion [ix]   References [x]   Application [i]   Abstract The principle of operation of an experimental total hip endoprosthesis augmented with ligament analogs has been demonstrated in single-leg vertical stances and at the mid-stance phase of the single-support period of gait. The experiments were conducted on a specially designed mechatronic testing rig. The concept of the important role of the ligamentous apparatus is further illustrated by a set of demonstrative mechanical mode...

1970MichaelsG_MatlesAL

  Content [i]   Annotation [ii]   Original text [iii]   References [iv]   Source  &  links [v]   Notes [vi]   Authors & Affiliations [vii]   Keywords [i]   Annotation Abstract of the article: Michaels G, Matles AL. The role of the ligamentum teres in congenital dislocation of the hip (1970). The authors proposed an analogy for the role of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) as a “ball and chain control” and noted that it can spontaneously reduce congenital hip dislocation. The text in Russian is available at the following link: 1970MichaelsG_MatlesAL . [ii]   Original text Quote p. 199 Many papers in the literature have implicated the ligamentum teres as a hindrance to the late open reduction of a congenitally dislocated hip. Occasionally the ligamentum teres has been reported to be absent. However, in most cases it is hypertrophied and elongated. Our present knowledge confirms the fact that congenital dislocation of t...

2008WengerDR_MiyanjiF

  Article: Wenger DR et al. Ligamentum teres maintenance and transfer as a stabilizer in open reduction for pediatric hip dislocation: surgical technique and early clinical results (2008). The article describes a method of open reconstruction of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) for hip dysplasia. The text in Russian is available at the following link: 2008WengerDR_MiyanjiF . Ligamentum teres maintenance and transfer as a stabilizer in open reduction for pediatric hip dislocation: surgical technique and early clinical results   Wenger DR, Mubarak SJ, Henderson PC, Miyanji F   CONTENT [i]   Abstract [ii]   Introduction [iii]   Materials and Methods [iv]   Surgical technique & Results [v]   Discussion & Conclusion [vi]   References [vii]   Application [i]   Abstract Purpose The ligamentum teres has primarily been considered as an obstruction to reduction in children with developmental dislocation of the hip (DDH). In the ea...

Catalog. Classifications of LCF Pathology

  The classifications are intended to systematize of ligamentum capitis femoris pathology and assist in the development of general approaches to its description, registration, analysis and treatment.   Keywords ligamentum capitis femoris, ligamentum teres, ligament of head of femur, hip joint, histology, pathological anatomy, pathology, trauma INTRODUCTION In Russia, the initial attempts to classify pathology of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) were made by morphologists. The development of arthroscopic surgery has made it possible to identify various, previously undescribed types of LCF pathology, which prompted the development of various modern classifications based on intraoperative observations. Analysis of literature data and our own morphological observations allowed us to propose a General Classification of the Ligamentum Teres Pathology, which has the form of a collection of classifiers, as well as a Classification of Functions of the Ligamentum Teres. The ...

11th-15th Century

   11th-15th Century Catalog of archived publications of the specified period        11th century 976-1115Theophilus Protospatharius  The author writes about the  normal anatomy of the LCF and its connective function. 1012-1024Avicenna   The author writes about the localization and  variant of the pathology LCF, leading to hip dislocation. 1039-1065Giorgi Mtatsmindeli   The translator mentions the LCF damage, and notes its presence in animals. 12 th century 1120-1140Judah Halevi   The author mentions LCF (גיד) of mammals. 1176-1178(a)Rambam  The author mentions the pathology of LCF (גיד) in humans and points out the presence of this structure in animals. 1176-1178(b)Rambam  The author writes about the localization of LCF (גיד) ) and distinguishes it from a tendon,   blood vessel or nerve. 1185-1235David Kimchi  The author writes about the localization, purpose, and injury of the LCF (גיד), and also talks abo...

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...

190-230Mishnah Chullin

  Tractate Mishnah Chullin was written between about 190 - 230 in Israel and discuss laws related to consumption of meat. The selected quotes talk about the presence of ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) in different animals, its location and distal attachment site. See our commentary at the link: 190-230Mishnah Chullin [Rus]. Quote 1. [Heb] Mishnah Chullin 7:1 (original source:  sefaria.org ) Quote 2. [Heb] Mishnah Chullin 7:2 (original source:  sefaria.org ) Quote 3. [Heb] Mishnah Chullin 7:3 (original source:  sefaria.org ) Quote 4. [Heb] Mishnah Chullin 7:4 (original source:  sefaria.org ) Quote 5. [Heb] Mishnah Chullin 7:5 (original source:  sefaria.org ) Quote 6. [Heb] Mishnah Chullin 7:6 (original source:  sefaria.org ) Translation Quote 1. [Eng] Mishnah Chullin 7:1 The prohibition of eating the sciatic nerve applies both in Eretz Yisrael and outside of Eretz Yisrael, in the presence of, i.e., the time of, the Temple and not in the presence of th...

1176-1178(a)Rambam

  Fragments from the book Rambam. Mishneh Torah. Sefer Shofetim, Negative Mitzvot (1176-1178). The treatise Mishneh Torah – legal code, work of Jewish law, its parts Sefer Shofetim (Kings and Wars) and Negative Mitzvot ( Negative Commandments ) was written between about 1176-1178 years in Egypt ( 1sefaria.org , 2sefaria.org ). The author mentions the pathology of ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF, גיד) in humans and points out the presence of this structure in animals.  See our commentary at the link:   1176-1178(a)Rambam [Rus]. Quote 1. [Heb] Mishneh Torah. Sefer Shofetim, 9.1 (original source:  sefaria.org ) Quote 2. [Heb] Mishneh Torah. Negative Mitzvot, 183 (original source:  sefaria.org ) Translation Quote 1. [Eng] Mishneh Torah. Laws of Kings and Wars (The Book of Judges ) , 9.1-3 9.1 Adam, the first man, was commanded with six commandments: 1) idolatry, 2) “blessing” (euphemistically) the Name (of G-d), 3) murder, 4) illicit sexual relations, 5) thievery...

The author is looking for a laboratory to continue his research

  The author is looking for a laboratory to continue his research.   Areas for cooperation: - pathogenesis and prevention of coxarthrosis - arthroscopy of the hip joint - hip arthroplasty - reconstruction of the hip joint ligaments - biomechanics of postures and locomotion - classification of ligament pathology - remote diagnostics of hip joint ligament pathology   Email: archipovsv@gmail.com Briefly about Sergey Arkhipov Bibliography Experimental material Blog [Rus] Blog [Eng] ResearchGate ORCID Twitter / Х Academia.edu BLOG CONTENT NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS