Content
Fragments from the book Cheselden W.
The Anatomy of the Human Body, XII-th ed. (1784). 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 an inch
long” i.e. approximately 2.5 cm.
Quote pp. 43-45
Chap. VII. Cartilages,
Ligaments, etc.
BONES that are articulated for motion are tied
together by very strong ligaments, to prevent their dislocating, which also
surround the joints to contain their lubricating mucus. The thickness
and strength of these ligaments are proportioned to the actions of
the several joints, and their lengths are no more than sufficient to allow
a proper quantity of motion; but the forms of them
are different according to the different actions of the several
joints.
THE bones of the limbs that move to all fides have ligaments like purses, which arise from or near the edges of the sockets of the receiving bones, and are inserted all round the received bones a little below their heads. The beginnings of these ligaments, from the edges of the sockets of the scapula and os innominatum, are very hard, almost cartilaginous, which serves in the scapula to make a larger socket, and such an one as will alter the figure as the bone moves, for the reason I have mentioned in the loose cartilage of the knee; for the head of the os humeri not being an exact portion of a sphere, requires such a socket, and the hard part of this ligament of the socket of the os innominatum makes the socket deeper than the semidiameter of the socket, by which means the articulation is made stronger without any hindrance to motion, because it will give way to the neck of the os femoris when it presses against it; and the thigh bone being more disposed to be dislocated upwards than any other way, the upper fide of this bursal ligament is made exceeding strong to prevent such an accident, From the lower edge of the acetabulum or socket of the os innominatum arises a ligament about an inch long, called teres, or rotundum, which length is necessary for that quantity of motion which this joint has in human bodies; it also hinders the os femoris from dislocating upwards, but downwards it will suffer it to go far out of the socket; but in brutes the head of the os femoris being oblong, and the cavity suitable, there can be only a rotatory motion, which in effect will be very little more than that kind of motion which is called bending and extending; and this never removing the end of the head of the bone far in the socket, a short ligament is enough for it, and will better keep the bone in its place; and therefore it is that theirs is so short. This ligament in men may also serve to press the gland in the bottom of the acetabulum or socket.
Quote pp. 47-48
EVERY joint, where the bones are faced with
a cartilage for a fliding motion, is furnished with small glands, which
separate a mucilaginous matter for the lubricating of the ends of
the bones, that they may move easily upon one another; and, that there may
be no waste of this necessary fluid, it is contained in the investing
ligaments; which, for this very reason, are no where divided, except to
communicate with the ligaments of the tendons.
THESE glands are generally seated in a little fat near the insertion of the ligaments, that they may be compressed by them when the joints are in motion; which is a proper time to have their fluid pressed out. The most considerable parcel of these glands, with their fat, are seen in the joint of the knee, and the largest gland of this fort is found in the sinus at the bottom of the acetabulum of the os innominatum, and is compressed by the ligamentum teres.
Cheselden W. The Anatomy of the Human Body, XII-th ed. London: J.E & C. Rivington, J. Doodley, T. Cadell, R. Baldwin, T. Lowndes, S. Hayes, 1784. books.google
The work is cited in the following publications: 2025SrinivasanS_SakthivelS.
William Cheselden (1688-1752) was an English surgeon and teacher of anatomy and surgery. wikipedia.org
Editors: Robert Baldwin, Thomas Cadell, J. Doodley, S. Hayes, T. Lowndes, C. Rivington, E. Rivington, John Rivington.
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| William Cheselden (18th century) Author: Jonathan Richardson, engraved possibly by Ambroise Tardieu; original in the wikimedia.org collection (CC0 – Public Domain, no changes) |
ligamentum capitis femoris, ligamentum teres, ligament of head of femur, anatomy, properties, role
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