Skip to main content

1698CowperW

 

Fragments from the book Cowper W. The anatomy of humane bodies (1698). The author writes about the anatomy and attachment of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF). The monograph points to the function of the LCF: to reduce compression of the femoral head and upper part of the acetabulum during walking and running.


Quote 1.

THE SEVENTY-FOURTH TABLE.

I, The Head of the Os Femoris lying out of the Acetabulum, after the Ligamentum Latum is cut off

k, The Round Ligament of the Os Femoris which is Fasten’d to the Inferior Part or Margin of the Acetabulum; whereby the Great Atrition of the Superior Part of the Acetabulum, with the Head of the Os Femoris, is prevented in Walking, Running, and the like Actions.

l, The Mucilaginous Gland Entertain’d in a particular Depressure in the Bottom and Lower Part of the Acetabulum; whereby the too Great and often Compressure of the Mucilage in Ordinary Motions of the Thigh, is Prevented.

m, Some Remains of the Mucilaginous Glands on the Neck of the Os Femoris, near the Conjunction of the Ligamentum Latum; which is here taken off, to shew the Head of the Thigh-Bone and Acetabulum of the Os Coxendicis.




Quote 2.

THE NINETY-NINTH TABLE.

Fig. 2.

The External Convext Surface of the Os Innominatum:

ABB, Its Cavity, wherein the Head of the Os Femoris is receiv’d, call’d Acetabulum and Pixis.

A, A Sinus Excavated in the Inferior Part of the Acetabulum, in which the Mucilaginous Gland is plac’d: Vid. Tab. 74.1.

The Ligamentum Rotundum Figur’d Tab. 74. k, Arises from the Lower-part of the Acetabulum towards its External Margin ; whence it passes Upwards to its Termination in the Head of the Os Femoris ; which Disposition of that Ligament, is no small Artifice in Nature, in preventing too great a Coalision of the Superior Part of the Acetabulum with the Head of the Thigh-bone, in Walking, Running, &c. as before Noted.

B B, The External Margin of the Acetabulum, whence the Ligamentum Latum do’s Arise; which Ligament is Implanted in the Neck of the Os Femoris.

C D E, The Dorsurn Ilii.

D Superior, The Spina Ilii.

EE, Divers Precedes towards the Back part of the Ilium, where its other Side, Exprest in the Former Figure D, is join’d with the Sacrum.

F, A Sinus of the Os Ilium, in which the Musculus Piriformis passes towards its Implantation.

G, An Acute Process of the Ischium.

H, An Appendix of the Ischium, to which a Ligament Arising from the Os Sacrum is Fasten’d: From this Appendix the Musculus Quadratus Femoris, and the Muscules Bending the Tibia, do Arise.

I, That Part where the Os Ischium joins with the Os Pubis.

K, The Os Pubis or Pectinis.

L, The Great Foramen of the Ischium and Pubis.

N. B. The Three Bones which Compose the Os Innominatum, all meet and join in the Acetabulum.




Quote 3.

THE HUNDRED & THIRD TABLE.

The Bones of the Inferior Artus or Limbs are Divided into the Thigh, Shank, and Foot.

Fig. I.

The Fore-part of the Left Thigh-bone.

A, The Upper Appendix of the Thigh-bone, call’d its Head, cover’d with a Cartilage, which is receiv’d in the Acetabulum of the Os Innominatum, Tab. 99. Fig. 2. ABB. The Round Ligament Arising from the Inferior Part of the Acetabulum, is Inserted near the Middle of this Head of the Thigh-bone, Fig. 2. B. This Articulation of the Thigh-bone with the Hip-bone, is call’d Enarthrosis.

B, The Trochanter Major, which in Young Bodies Appears join’d with a Cartilage to the Thigh-bone, and is therefore call’d an Epiphysis or Appendix.

C, The Cervix or Neck of the Os Femoris, to which the Ligamentum Latum is Fasten'd.

DE, The Inferior Appendix of the Os Femoris, Framing Two Heads: The Smooth Cartilaginous Surface which Appears between them, receives the Internal Surface of the Patella, Fig. 4.

F, A Sinus whence the Musculus Poplitaeus has its Tendinous Origin.

Fig. 2.

The Posterior Part of the Right Thigh-bone.

A, Its Head.

B, A little Depressure, where the Ligamentum Rotundum is Implanted.

C, The Lesser Trochanter, to which the Muscuius Psoas and Iliacus Internus, are Inserted.

DE, The Two Inferior Heads of the Thigh-bone, which are receiv’d in Two Shallow Depressures, Fram’d by Two Semilunary Cartilages, plac’d on the Superior Part of the Tibia: The Sinus between these Two Heads, receives a small Prominence on the Upper-part of the Tibia, especially in its Flexion: This Articulation of the Thigh with the Tibia, is by Gynglimus.

F, The Great Trochanter, where the Musculus Pyriformis, Marsupialis, Obturator Externus, and Parts of the Glutaei Medii, Minimi, and Quadratics Femoris, are Inserted.

G G, The Linea Aspera, to which Part of the Muscuius Quadratus Femoris, Glutaeus Maximus, and the Greatest Part of the Triceps are Inserted: The Vastus Externus and Internus, do chiefly Arise from the Linea Aspera.

In some Bodies, especially Aged, we find Two Ossa Sesamoidea on the Superior Parts of the Two Lower Heads of the Thigh-bone D E: The Office of which, is to Defend the Bending Tendons of the Tibia from too great a Collision on those Heads of the Bone, which they would else be Subject to: The like Ossification I have more than once Observ’d in the Tendon of the Peroneus Longus, at its Contortion over the Os Calcis towards the Bottom of the Foot.




External links

Cowper W. The anatomy of humane bodies: with figures drawn after the life by some of the best masters in Europe, and curiously engraven in one hundred and fourteen copper plates, illustrated with large explications, containing many new anatomical discoveries, and chirurgical observations: to which is added an introduction explaining the animal oeconomy, with a copious index. Oxford: Printed at the Theater, for Sam. Smith and Benj. Walford, printers to the Royal Society, at the Princes Arms in St. Paul's Church Yard, London, MDCXCVIII [1698]. [archive.org]

Authors & Affiliations

William Cowper (1666-1709) was an English surgeon and anatomist. [wikipedia.org]

William Cowper (1698)

Keywords

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

                                                                                                                   

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 

MORPHOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

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...

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...

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., ...

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...

16с.Archangel_Michael

    Icon «Michael the Archangel (in deeds)», stigma «The struggle of Jacob with the angel» (16th 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 ). Unknown author – Icon «Michael the Archangel (in deeds)»...

1626BartholinC

  Fragment from the book Bartholin C. Anatomicae Institutiones Corporis Humani (1626). The author describes the anatomy, topography, geometric and mechanical properties of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF). The term «terete» (rounded) is used to indicate its geometry. The term «cartilagine» (cartilaginous) is used to describe the hardness of the LCF, and the analogy of «nervus esset cartilaginosus» (like a cartilaginous sinew) is given. Similar terminological elements are present in the works of Galen of Pergamon and Theophilus Protospatharius ( 2020ArkhipovSV_ProlyginaIV ). See the previous edition at the link:  1611BartholinC   Quote p. 409 [Lat] Cap. XXI. DE OSSIBUS TOTIUS PEDIS. … I. Est caput maximum & rotundum, ex appendice factum, quod in coxendicis acetabulum inseritur, & duplici ligamento cum coxendice nectitur: uno communi, lato, membraneo, sed satis crasso, orbiculatum articulum ambiente; altero terete, quasi cartilagine (ac si nervus esset cart...

1905BardeenCR

  An excerpt from the article by Bardeen CR. Studies of the development of the human skeleton (1905). The author briefly discusses the emergence of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF). Quote p. 287 The hip-joint is represented at first by a dense mass of scleroblastema, Fig. 55. The development of the acetabulum by ingrowth and fusion of processes from the iliac, ischial and pubic cartilages has already been described. The cartilagenous joint-cavity is at first quite shallow, Fig. 56. But extension of cartilage into the blastemal tissue which passes from the pelvis over the head of the femur serves greatly to deepen it on all sides except in the region of the cotyloid notch. The joint-cavity is at first completely filled with a dense blastemat tissue, Fig. 56. While the embryo is growing from 20 to 30 mm. in length cavity formation begins in the tissue lying between the cartilagenous floor of the acetabulum and the head of the femur. The first stage in the process is marked by a c...

1720RuyschF

  The author draws attention to the well-developed blood supply of the acetabular fossa, as well as the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF). In the work, it is referred to as the «ligamentum nerveo-cartilagineum», which literally means the tough cartilaginous ligament and implies its strength. With the difficulty of accessing the acetabular fossa, and therefore the LCF, Frederik Ruysch associates the inefficiency of treating hip joint pain. The writer presumably implies osteoarthritis. In our opinion, its development is initiated by the pathology of the LCF ( 2012АрхиповСВ ). The discussed work includes a black and white drawing of the LCF of a child, made by the illustrator Jan Wandelaar. In color, the same preparation, but from a different angle, was depicted by the artist Jan l'Admiral in a separate publication ( 1738LadmiralJ ). Ruysch F. Adversarium anatomico-medico-chirurgicorum decas secunda. In quâ varia notatu digna recensentur. Cum figuris aeneis. Amsterdami: a...

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...

Human Children. Retelling of Chapter 1

      Short retelling of chapter 1 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 1. THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD The Bible stands as a remarkable testament to religious and philosophical thought, passed down through the ages with minimal alterations. At its core lies a collection of texts rooted in the sacred writings of Jewish and Samaritan traditions, known as the Torah, meaning "Law" or "Teaching." In its narrowest sense, the Torah comprises the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, collectively called the Tanakh—an acronym derived from the Hebrew terms for "Law/Teaching" (Torah), "Prophets" (Nevi’im), and "Writings" (Ketuvim). Beyond this Written Torah, there exists an Oral Torah, which includes the Mishnah, Talmud, and Midrash, offering interpretations and expansions of the written texts. The Written Torah it...