Applied anatomical studies on the stifle joint of the one-humped camel [camelus dromedarius]

ABSTRACT

The stifle joint of the camel consists of the femoropatellar and femortibial joints. The articular surface of the femoropatellar joint showed that the femoral trochlea is somewhat oblique in direction with high lateral ridge. The patella is quadrilateral in shape with an elevated convex distal articular surface and absence of a complementary fibrocartilage. The femoral condyles of the femorotibial joint are oblique with the lateral condyles large than the medial ones. The tibial condyles are separated by the intercondyloid eminence. The medial eminence is higher than the lateral one. The medial meniscus is smaller than the lateral one. The fibrous joint capsule of the stifle joint is thick, the synovial layer of the femoropatellar joint forms large joint sac divided into proximal and distal pouches, the distal one is communicated directly with the femorotibial joint sac cranially. The femorotibial joint sac has two pouches [medial and lateral one] each of which consists of a proximal and a distal part. The patellar ligaments are three in number. The medial one is the strongest and thickest followed by the lateral while medial is the smallest. The medial and lateral ligaments are thin and long strands. The collateral ligaments of the femorotibial joints are well developed on the medial side than the lateral one. The cruciate and meniscus ligaments are also described and only in case of camel the caudal ligament of lateral meniscus seems as if it were an intermeniscus ligament. The site of injection of the stifle joint is also mentioned