1751BöhmerPA

Fragments from the book Böhmer PA. Institutiones osteologicae in usum praelectionum academicarum cum iconibus anatomicus (1751). The author describes the topography, mechanical properties and role of the роль ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF). This work has been repeatedly cited in publications by other medical writers: 1803SchregerCHT, 1880HyrtlJ. The translation was done in collaboration with ChatGPT (version 3.5) and the Google Translate service.

Böhmer PA. Institutiones osteologicae in usum praelectionum academicarum cum iconibus anatomicus. Halae Magdeburgicae: In Officina Libraria Rengeriana, MDCCLI [1751]. [fragments]

Quote pp. 263-264

§. CCCCLXXX.

Acetabularum structura, et vsus,

Sunt autem amplissima cauatam mirifice coxis adposita, vt iisdem coxae cum toto trunco diuersimode super femora moueri et inclinari possint. Quaelibet sinuositas caput femoris profundius excipiens proprie acetabulum, Gr. κοτύλῃ vocatur (§. LXXVI.), ex concursu trium ossium componitur (§. CCCCLXXVII.), et crusta cartilaginea obducitur ac augetur (§. CCCCLXVIII); defectus vero in imperfecta ipsius ora ab opposita cartilagine suppletur, et per incisuram (§. CCCCLXXXI.) vasa, a compressione libera, tutissime admittuntur. Totus denique sinus validissimo, ex supercilio eius inaequali pro deunte ligamento, firmissime cum capite ossis femoris unitur.

§. 480.

The structure of the acetabulum and its appearance,

However, there are very large cavities wonderfully placed near the hips to allow them to move and bend in various ways relative to the entire torso. Each depression in which the head of the femur is deeply embedded is called the acetabulum proper, in Greek κοτύλῃ (§. 76), consists of a connection of three bones (§. 477), is covered with a cartilaginous layer and expanded (§. 468); but there is a defect, which at the edge is filled with the opposite cartilage, and through the incision (§. 481) the vessels, free from compression, are safely passed. In the end, the entire sinus is very strong, thanks to the uneven edge, with the missing ligament, it is firmly connected to the head of the femur.

Quote p. 264

§. CCCCLXXXI.

corumque sminor in ima parte cauitas.

Quum vero anterius et lateraliter ex parte dehifcat, supercilium illius imperfectum et inaequale fit, immo sinuositas, quae in medio et versus ilia latescit, ad hiatum rursus angustatur. Cauitas minor, quam in ima parte continet, simili gaudet margine imperfecto et inaequali, ac aspera superficie, eaque non solum ligamentum teres siue planum recipit, verum etiam glandulae mucilaginosae tutissimum concedit locum, efficitque, ne tota sub motu comprimatur.

§. 481.

smaller cavity at the bottom.

Where the rupture occurs anteriorly and laterally, its [acetabulum] edge becomes incomplete and uneven, and the notch, which extends from the middle outward, narrows again to a fissure. The smaller cavity which it [the acetabulum] contains in the lower part, also has the same interrupted and uneven edge and a rough surface, which not only receives the round or flat ligament, but also provides the safest place for the mucous glands, preventing them from being completely compressed when movements.

Quote pp. 324-325

§. DLXXXVIII.

eiusque inaequalis fossa qua ligamentum teres educitur

In medio profundam et inaequalem fossam habet, ex qua ligamentum firmissimum, crassum, et elasticum educitur, quod propriae acetabuli crenae inseritur (§. CCCCLXXXI), et, vi officii, suspensorium dici meretur.

§. 588.

and its irregular fossa, through which the round ligament passes.

In the middle there is a deep and uneven fossa, from which emerges a very firm, thick and elastic ligament, which is attached to its own notch of the acetabulum (§. 481), and by its function deserves to be called suspensory.

Quote pp. 325-326

§. DXC.

Connexio capitis femoris cum acetabulo.

In commissura capitis cum collo femoris, et circulo praecipue circa basin ceruicis aspero, ligamentum vasis refertissimum, robustum, validumque capsulare, quod caput ossis femoris cum acetabulo iungit (§. CCCCLXXX), firmatur. Quo vero liberius in centro acetabuli versari, et absque vasorum, illud ingredientium (§. CCCCLXXXI.) compressione, ex glanduloso-pinguedinosis organis mucus capsam inter et caput femoris exprimi, nec, relaxato forsan articulari vinculo, os prorsus ex articulatione elabi possit; natura suspensorio prospexit ligamento (§. DLXXXVIII).

§. 590.

Connection of the head of the femur with the acetabulum.

At the junction of the head with the neck of the femur and especially around the base of the neck, there is a very dense, strong and powerful capsular ligament that connects the head of the femur with the acetabulum (§. 480) and secures it. It allows the head of the femur to move freely inside the acetabulum and without compressing the vessels entering it (§. 481), under pressure the mucus from the glandular-fatty organs is squeezed out between the acetabulum and the head of the femur, and, even if the articular ligament [capsule] weakened, the bone cannot slide completely out of the joint; is because nature has focused on the suspensory ligament (§. 588).

External links

Böhmer PA. Institutiones osteologicae in usum praelectionum academicarum cum iconibus anatomicus. Halae Magdeburgicae: In Officina Libraria Rengeriana, MDCCLI [1751]. [archive.org , books.google]

Authors & Affiliations

Philipp Adolph Böhmer (1711-1789) was a Prussian physician and professor of medicine at the University of Halle. [wikipedia.org]

Philipp Adolph Böhmer (before 1900)
Unknown author; original in the wikimedia.org collection
(CC0 – Public Domain, no changes)

Keywords

ligamentum capitis femoris, ligamentum teres, ligament of head of femur, anatomy, synonym, role, mechanical properties

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

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MORPHOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY

Comments

1902RilkeRM

Works of art that mention ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) are extremely rare. One such work is the poem «Der Schauende» ( He Who Visions, The Seer, The Man Watching, The Beholder) b y Rainer Rilke. Below is the original text in German. Der Schauende 1. Ich sehe den Bäumen die Stürme an, die aus laugewordenen Tagen an meine ängstlichen Fenster schlagen, und höre die Fernen Dinge sagen, die ich nicht ohne Freund ertragen, nicht ohne Schwester lieben kann. 2. Da geht der Sturm, ein Umgestalter, geht durch den Wald und durch die Zeit, und alles ist wie ohne Alter: die Landschaft, wie ein Vers im Psalter, ist Ernst und Wucht und Ewigkeit. 3. Wie ist das klein, womit wir ringen, was mit uns ringt, wie ist das groß; ließen wir, ähnlicher den Dingen, uns so vom großen Sturm bezwingen, - wir würden weit und namenlos. 4. Was wir besiegen, ist das Kleine, und der Erfolg selbst macht uns klein. Das Ewige und Ungemeine will nicht von uns gebogen sein. Das ist der Enge...

1823CooperA

According to the author, the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) is intended to prevent dislocations in all directions. A. Cooper discusses traumatic obturator dislocation of the hip joint and LCF injury in more detail. Cooper A. Abhandlung über Luxationen und Fracturen der Gelenke des Unterkiefers, der obern Extremitäten und der Knochen des Rumpfes. Aus dem Englischen. Weimar : Landes-Industrie-Comptoir, 1823. [fragments] Quote p. 1 4 8 Das ligamentum teres hat die Bestimmung, Luras tionen nach allen Richtungen hin zu verhindern, besonders aber nach abwärts, denn wenn die Schenkel weit ausein andergespreizt werden, wie z. B. bei'm Fechten, so würde der Kopf des linken Oberschenkelknochens in Gefahr feyn, aus seiner Gelenkhöhle zu schlüpfen, was aber durch dieses Ligament verhindert wird. The ligamentum teres is designed to prevent dislocations in all directions, especially downwards, because when the thighs are widely ab...

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., ...

A Novel Technique for Proximal Fixation

Arkhipov SV. A Novel Technique for Proximal Fixation of Ligamentum Capitis Femoris Reconstruction: The Gifts of the Magi for Orthopedic Surgeons. About Round Ligament of Femur. January 14, 2026. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.25269.33763 https://roundligament.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-gifts-of-magi-for-orthopedic.html Abstract Purpose: To describe an experimental technique for proximal fixation in ligamentum capitis femoris (ligamentum teres femoris; LCF) reconstruction using pubic and ischial portions anchored in corresponding pelvic bone tunnels, tested on synthetic hip joint models, and to propose it’s for arthroscopic application with visualization via an inferior portal and femoral tunnel. Methods: Synthetic polyurethane bone analogs (Synbone) of the pelvis and proximal femur were used to fabricate hip joint models. Acetabular cartilage analogs were created from self-curing plastic compound. Femoral tunnels were drilled along the neck axis from the subtrochanteric region below the tub...

1740KulmusJA

Fragments from the book Kulmus JA. Tables anatomiques (1734). The author briefly writes about the anatomy, properties and attachment of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF). There are known translations of the treatise into Latin ( 1732KulmusJA ) and French ( 1734KulmusJA ). Quote p. 51 [Deu] Translation [Eng] с . In the upper part of the head there is a recess in which the round ligament is attached. Quote p. 54 [Deu] Translation [Eng] 2.) The round ligament is short but very strong; it arises at the bottom of the acetabulum and joins the fossa at the top of the femoral condyle. External links Kulmus JA. Anatomische Tabellen: Nebst dazu gehörigen Anmerckungen und Kupffern, Daraus des gantzen Menschlichen Cörpers Beschaffenheit und Nutzen deutlich zu ersehen; Welche Den Anfängern der Anatomie zu bequemer Anleitung verfasset hat… Nuremberg, Frankfort, Leipzig: J.A. von Creutz, MDCCXXXX [1740]. [ archive.org ] Authors & Affiliations Johann Adam Kulmus (...

Human Children. Retelling of Chapter 13

Short retelling of chapter 13 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 13. PROPHETIC DREAMS After his wanderings and battles, Abraham settles in “Mamre’s oaks in Hebron.” Following these events, he experiences a divine “word in a vision” and a dream promising him lands “from Egypt’s river to the great river, Euphrates.” His family relocates to a desert along the Shur road, near the well “Beer-Lahai-Roi,” between Kadesh and Bered. In another divine appearance, Abraham is commanded to circumcise all males’ foreskins, rename Sarai as Sarah, and is told he’ll father a child at 100, despite Sarah’s barrenness at 89. That day, Abraham circumcises his son Ishmael, household males, and, at 99, himself. In Mamre’s oaks, during “daytime heat,” a mirage foretells fatherhood. The dream shifts, showing Sodom and Gomorrah’s destruction and Lot’s miraculous rescue. ...

LCF in 2025 (July)

LCF in 2025 ( July ) (Quotes from articles and books published in July 2025 mentioning the ligamentum capitis femoris.) Tekcan, D., Bilgin, G., & Güven, Ş. Evaluation of Risk Factors for Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip. HAYDARPAŞA NUMUNE MEDICAL JOURNAL , 65 (2), 99-103. [i] jag.journalagent.com Domb, B. G., & Sabetian, P. W. (2025). Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome: Gluteal Tendinopathy, Partial Tear, Complete Tear, Iliotibial Band Syndrome, and Bursitis. In Orthopaedic Sports Medicine (pp. 1-17). Springer, Cham. [ii] link.springer.com Kuhns, B. D., Becker, N., Patel, D., Shah, P. P., & Domb, B. G. (2025). Significant Heterogeneity in Existing Literature Limits Both Indication and Outcome Comparability Between Studies Involving Periacetabular Osteotomy For Acetabular Dysplasia With or Without Arthroscopy Despite Improvement for Both: A Systematic Review. Arthroscopy . [iii] ...

1851HyrtlJ

The author expresses a classic view on the functions of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF): a conductor of blood vessels and a limiter of adduction of the femur. J. Hyrtl believed that it was impossible to completely dislocate the hip without tearing the LCF. Hyrtl J. Lehrbuch der Anatomie des Menschen, mit Rücksicht auf physiologische Begründung und praktische Anwendung. Wien: W. Braumüller, 1851. [fragment] Quote p. 265 In der Höhle des Gelenks liegt das runde Band des Schenkelkopfes (Lig. teres), welches an der Incisura acetabuli entspringt, und bei richtiger Neigung des Beckens, senkrecht zur Grube des Schenkelkopfes aufsteigt. Es beschränkt dieses Band die Zuziehung des Schenkels, und schreibt zugleich den durch die Incisura acetabuli eindringenden Blutgefässen den Weg vor, den sie zum Oberschenkelkopfe zu nehmen haben. Da das Band, wenn es in die Höhle des Gelenkes vorragen würde, durch Reibung viel zu leiden hätte, so...

1730CheseldenW

Fragments from the book Cheselden W. The Anatomy of the Human Body (1730). The author draws attention to the role of ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) in counteracting hip dislocation and maintaining the femoral head in the joint. The work notes that the LCF is “powerful” and “short” - “about two inches” i.e. approximately 5 cm! This error will be corrected in a subsequent treatise ( 1733CheseldenW ) . Quote pp. 43 - 44 Chap. VII. Of the Ligaments At the upper part of the articulation of the Os Femoris and Os Innominatum, is a strong ligament of great consequence; it contributing very much to preserve that joint from being luxated by the weight of the body. And from the lower edge of the Acetabulum of the Os Innominatum, runs a ligament to the middle of the head of the Os Femoris, about two inches long (which the Motion in this joint requires) called Teres, or Rotundum, whose use is to prevent the Os Femoris from being luxated upwards, but down wards it will le...

Human Children. Retelling of Chapter 14

Short retelling of chapter 14 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 14. ESAU AND JACOB At 40, Isaac marries Rebekah, his cousin’s daughter. Their marriage is long childless until Rebekah conceives twins, detected prenatally, possibly by her large belly or palpation. Genesis states that at 60, Isaac fathers the twins, born naturally after 20 years of marriage. The first, Esau, emerges “red, all hairy like a cloak,” followed by Jacob, unremarkable but grasping Esau’s heel. Over time, their differences deepen: Esau, a skilled hunter, roams fields; Jacob, gentle, stays in tents. Famine forces the family from “Beer-Lahai-Roi” in the Negev to “Gerar’s Philistine king,” then to “Gerar’s valley,” and finally to Beersheba. At 40, Jacob, urged by Rebekah, deceives blind Isaac to steal Esau’s inheritance, sparking enmity. Rebekah advises Jacob to flee to rela...

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