Skip to main content

1543(a)VesaliusA


Fragments from the book Vesalius A. Humani corporis fabrica Libri septem (1543). The author describes the anatomy, attachment, properties and role of ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF), and also interprets its synonyms. The translation into English was made from the Russian edition (1950ВезалийА). Our brief commentary is available at the link: 1543(a)VesaliusA [Rus].

Quote 1. p. 214.

[Lat]

Liber II. Cap. I. Qvid ligamentum, as qvis ligamentiusus et differentia.

O - Teres ligamentum, femoris os coxendicis ossi iungens.

Jan Stephan van Calcar (ca. 1543)

Quote 2. p. 226.

Liber II. Cap. XLIX. De mvscvlis peni pecvliaribus, Qvadragesimi noni capitis tabulae, eiusdemq figurarum & characterum index.

P,2 - Teres ligamentum, a coxendicis osse in rotundum femoris caput insertum.

Jan Stephan van Calcar (ca. 1543)

Quote 3. p. 252.

Liber II. Cap. LXI. De ligamentis, ilivm ossa sacro colligantibus, et coxendicis ac genu articuli, deq; religuin omnibus quae in tibia et pede habentur ligamentis.

Porro aliud coxendicis articulo peculiare ligamentum teres est, & adeo durum, ut cartilaginous neruus merito ab alijs appellatus fuerit. Hoc ex medio capitis femoris enatum, non in acetabuli centrum inseritur, at in humilimam ipsius sedem, ubi adeps, non autem cartilago, sinui oblinitur.

Quote 4. p. 256.

Liber II. Cap. LXII. Mvscvlorum in tibia et pede sedem obtinentum, et ligamentorum omnium quae hactenus non resecta sunt, administrandi ratio, musculoruq; qui tibiam et pedem occupant, numerus.

Mox ad coxendicis articulum accedens, orbiculatim illum ambiens ligamentum acutiori cultello transuersim diuidito, atqueeius crassitiem, sed praecipua ortuni & insertione, inspicito. Simodo femur in exteriora modice duxeris, ex acetabulo ipsius caput elabetur, & teres ligamentum se spectandum exhibebit. Hoc transuersim dissecto, acetabulum accurate obseruandum uenit, propter iam commemorati ligamenti insertionem, & id ligamentum quod sinum augere diximus.

Translation

[Eng]

Quote 1. 214.

Book 1. Chapter 1. What is a ligament. The purpose of ligaments and their differences

O - Round ligament, connecting the femur to the pelvic bone.

Jan Stephan van Calcar (ca. 1543)

Quote 2. 226.

Book 2. Chapter 49. On the muscles belonging to the male genital organ.

P 2 - The round ligament, attached to the pelvic bone and to the round head of the femur.

Jan Stephan van Calcar (ca. 1543)

Quote 3. 252.

Book 2. Chapter 61. On the ligaments that connect the ilium with the sacrum, on the ligaments of the pelvic and knee joints, and on all the other ligaments that are in the tibia and in the foot.

Next, another ligament, belonging to the pelvic joint, is rounded and so rigid that it has been called by others, not without reason, the cartilaginous tendinous. Arising from the middle of the head of the femur, it is attached not to the center of the socket, but to its lowest part, where not cartilage but fat envelops the sinus and hides the edges of the socket of the pelvic bone.

Quote 4. 256.

Book 2. Chapter 62. The order of opening the muscles that are near the tibia and in the foot, and all the ligaments that have not been resected up to now.

Then, approaching the pelvic joint, you will divide with a sharp knife the ligament that encircles it transversely, and examine its thickness, origin, and attachment. If you now slightly draw the thigh outward, its head will slip out of the socket, and the observer will see a round ligament, which, having been cut transversely, can be carefully examined for the attachment of the ligament just mentioned and the one that, as we said, enlarges the sinus.





External links

Vesalius A. Humani corporis fabrica Libri septem. Basileae: Ex officina Joannis Oporini, Anno salutis reparatae, MDXLIII Mense Iunio [June, 1543]. [babel.hathitrust.org , archive.org]

Authors & Affiliations

Andreas Vesalius (Andries van Wezel, 1514-1564) physician, anatomist, professor at the University of Padua. [wikipedia.org]

Andreas Vesalius (1501-1550) 
Artist Jan van Calcar
, original in the wikipedia.org collection
(CC0 – Public Domain, no changes).

Jan Stephan van Calcar (Giovanni da Calcar, Ioannes Stephanus Calcarensis; c. 1499-1546) was a German-born Italian painter. [wikipedia.org]

Jan Stephan van Calcar 
Author Maximilian Franck (1818)
, original in the  wikipedia.org collection
(CC0 – Public Domain, no changes).

Keywords

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

                                                                    

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


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

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...

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...

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...

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]   ...

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., ...

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...

1877MorrisH

An excerpt from the article by Morris H. Dislocations of the Thigh: their mode of occurrence as indicated by experiments, and the Anatomy of the Hip-joint (1877, pp. 161-170). The author noted that the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) is stretched during flexion, adduction, and external rotation. It was found that the LCF is always damaged in hip dislocations, is more often torn from the femur, and is rarely ruptured. Discussion of article see article 1877BrookeC .   DISLOCATIONS OF THE THIGH: THEIR MODE OF OCCURRENCE AS INDICATED BY EXPERIMENTS AND THE ANATOMY OF THE HIP-JOINT. BY HENRY MORRIS, M.A., M.B., F.R.C.S., ASSISTANT SURGEON TO, AND LECTURER ON ANATOY1 AT, THE MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL. Received January 9th-Read February 13th, 1877. RECENTLY, whilst making various dissections of the hip-joint, the usually accepted doctrine that dorsal and ischiatic dislocations of the femur occur when the thigh is in a position of adduction appeared to me as very improbable, on anatomi...