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

1916WalmsleyT

    Article by Walmsley T. A note on the retinacula of Weitbrecht (1916). The author discusses the embryonic development and relationships of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) in humans and animals.     A NOTE ON THE RETINACULA OF WEITBRECHT. By THOMAS WALMSLEY, M.B., Senior Demonstrator in Anatomy, University  of Glasgow.   The synovial membrane of the hip-joint is in extent and attachment similar to that of other diarthroses, but the retinacula of Weitbrecht (or ligaments of Stanley) lend to it a special interest. These retinacula are readily recognized on the interior of the capsule as flattened bands passing inwards towards the margin of the head of the femur from the attachment of the peripheral capsule. The following description of their constitution may be selected as expressive of current opinion. The retinacula are arranged in three groups, superior, middle, and inferior: structurally, they are synovial covered capsular reflections: morphologic...

LCF in 2026 (August)

    LCF in 2026 (August )  (Quotes from articles and books published in  August   2026 mentioning the ligamentum capitis femoris)   Maldonado, D. R., Schab, A. R., & Domb, B. G. (2026). Improvement in Patient‐Reported Outcomes, High Rate of Return to Sport, and Secondary Surgery Rate Ranging From 0% to 9.8% After Hip Arthroscopy in Dancers and Athletes in Flexibility Sports: A Systematic Review. Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation , e70020.    [i]    arthroscopyjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com   Klingele, K., & Strub, D. (2026). Author Response: Considerations and Challenges in Open Reduction With Ligamentum Teres Reconstruction for Pediatric Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics .    [ii]    ovid.com   Quesada‐Jimenez, R., Rana, K., Strok, M. J., Kahana‐Rojkind, A. H., Burt, A. K., Sugarman, E. P., & Domb, B. G. (2026). Dual Labral and Ligamentum Ter...

1914JonesFW_MorrisH

  We are publishing a chapter from the fifth edition of «Morris's Human Anatomy» (1914). A significant portion of it is dedicated to the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF). The original text has been edited by Wood Jones. Particularly notable are the illustrations depicting the LCF. Some of them are improved drawings by the first author ( 1879MorrisH ).   Quote pp. 276-284 1. THE HIP-JOINT Class. — Diarthrosis. Subdivision. — Enarthrodia. The hip is the most typical example of a ball-and-socket joint in the body, the round head of the femur being received into the cup-shaped cavity of the acetabulum. Both articular surfaces are coated with cartilage, that covering the head of the femur being thicker above where it has to bear the weight of the body, and thinning out to a mere edge below; the pit for the ligamentum teres is the only part uncoated, but the cartilage is somewhat heaped up around its margin. Covering the acetabulum, the cartilage is horseshoe-shaped, a...

1861HoldenL

  Fragments from the book Holden L. Human Osteology (1861). The author discusses the attachment and anatomy of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) . In some cases, we have added links to quotations about LCF available on our resource, as well as to publications posted on the Internet.   Quote pp. 1 66-167 Acetabulum. Lastly, we come to the "acetabulum." This is so named from its resemblance to an ancient vinegar cup. Observe its great depth and hemispherical form adapted for the secure lodgement of the head of the thigh-bone, and for more or less movement in any direction. It looks downwards and outwards so as to transmit the weight of the trunk directly on to the head of the thigh-bone; and the upper or iliac portion of it is by far the thickest and strongest, since it has to support the whole weight of the trunk in the erect posture. All these points are of interest, because they are characteristic of the human skeleton. There are two notches in the margin or "br...

LCF in 2025 (January)

  LCF in 2025 (January) :  Quotes from articles and books published in  March  2025 mentioning the ligamentum capitis femoris. Alany, A. M. S., Rasul, D., Berzenji, A. I. H., & Berzenji, A. (2025). Early Outcomes of Arthroscopic Versus Open Reduction for Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip in Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial.  Cureus ,  17 (1).   [i]     assets.cureus.com   Lovelace, D. M., Kufner, A. M., Fitch, A. J., Curry Rogers, K., Schmitz, M., Schwartz, D. M., ... & Teran, R. (2025). Rethinking dinosaur origins: oldest known equatorial dinosaur-bearing assemblage (mid-late Carnian Popo Agie FM, Wyoming, USA).  Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society ,  203 (1), zlae153.   [ii]    academic.oup.com   Rashwan, A. S., El-Desouky, M., Elbarbary, H., Madbouly, M. A. E., & Khedr, A. (2025). Arthroscopic-assisted reduction for Developmental Hip Dysplasia (DDH) through the sub-adductor ...

14c.Chora_Church

  Chora Church (Mosque) in Istanbul, fresco – «Jacob Wrestling with the Angel» (14th 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 – «Jacob Wrestling with the Angel» (14th cent.) fresco Cho...

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)»...

Who, When, and Where Wrote the Book of Genesis?

  Who, When, and Where Wrote the Book of Genesis?  A Medical Hypothesis By Sergey V. Arkhipov, MD, PhD & Lyudmila N. Arkhipova, BSN     CONTENT [i]   Abstract [ii]   Introduction [iii]   Egyptian physician [iv]   Asian diviner [v]   Conclusion [vi]   References [vii]   Application [i]   Abstract The Book of Genesis is an example of an ancient literary text that contains important medical insights. We propose that it was written in northern Egypt in the late 17th century BCE, approximately ten years after the Minoan eruption. The protograph likely emerged from the collaboration between an Asiatic seer, who rose to the rank of an Egyptian official, and an Egyptian physician-encyclopedist. By refining its dating and authorship, this hypothesis positions Genesis as a credible source of medical and historical data, thereby enhancing its value for interdisciplinary research. [ii]   Introduction According to Rabbinic Judais...

150-200Pseudo-Galen

  Fragment from the treatise Pseudo-Galen Introduction, or the Physician ( Εἰσαγωγὴ ἢ Ἰτρός ; Introductio, seu Medicus; ca. 150-200 [our opinion]). The author notes the connecting function of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) and also specifies the proximal and distal attachment sites. See our commentary at the link: 150-200Pseudo-Galen [Rus]. Quote [Grc] Εἰσαγωγὴ ἢ Ἰτρός . K εφ . ιβ . [ Περί όστεολογἰας .] μηρου δέ έν μεν οστούν . συμβάλλει δε επικεκαμμένη μετρίως τη κεφαλή αυτού εις βαθείαν κοτύλην του ισχίου και νεύρῳ απήρτηται εκφυομένω εκ μέσης της κοτύλης και εμφυομένω εις μέσην την κεφαλήν του μηρού . (original source: 1827KühnCG, pp. 723-724) [Lat Introductio, seu Medicus. Cap. XII. [De osteologia] Femoris os unum est, cujus caput leniter reflexum in coxae profundum sinum conjicitur. Quam commissuram nervus, qui e medio sinu prodit et in medium femoris caput inseritur, continet. (original source: 1827KühnCG, pp. 723-724) Translation [Eng] Introduction, or the Phy...

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 (...