[Development of the ligamentum capitis femoris and the artery with the same name]

A morphological study concerning the development of the ligamentum teres and its artery was performed by investigating 300-600 microns thick epoxy resin impregnated sections through the hip joints of human fetuses and newborn children. In addition, the hip joints were macroscopically studied in three fetuses and in two newborn children. After photographical documentation the ligamenta teretes of these hips were processed into paraffin section. Within the ligamentum teres areas of different structures can clearly be distinguished during fetal development. The subsynovial layer consists of dense connective tissue containing numerous large cells. The major central portion of the ligament is formed by dense regular connective tissue. The blood vessels of the ligament are always surrounded by a layer of loose connective tissue. Adipose tissue firstly starts to spread in the postnatal period mainly occurring around the vessels. In the newborn child dense connective tissue is most abundant within the ligamentum teres. Thus it is considered to be especially strong. The femoral capitis artery is already present in 9 week-old fetuses. In 13 week-old fetuses branches of the femoral capitis artery enter the femoral head through cartilaginous channels and continuously maintain within the femoral head during further development. With the growing age of the fetuses the number of branches of the femoral capitis artery increases. Anastomoses between the cartilaginous channels of the femoral capitis artery and the medial and lateral circumflexal femoral artery can be found neither prenatally nor postnatally.