Some anatomical details of the knee joint.

In order to appreciate the arrangement of the capsule and ligaments of the knee joint it is advisable to consider the joint in the foetus, and trace the changes which occur (luring development of the adult structure. In the foetus the joint is a simple diarthrodial structure, the capsule being attached around the articular surfaces including that of the patella. The UP1)C end of the fibula articulates with the femur ; and the conjoined horizontal surfaces of the tihial plateau and upper end of the fibula are surrounded by a simple tubular capsule which is attached at its upper circumference round the articular surface of the femur. The capsule is interrupted anteriorly by a ga’), to the margins of vhich the articular surface of the patella is attache(l. At this stage the joint already Popiteus contains the tWo menisci.