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

                                                                     

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