The influence of periosteum on tendon and ligament migration

The continuity of the periosteum of the hindlimb of growing rabbits was disturbed by severing it. The femoral insertion of the pectineus muscle and the tibial attachment of the medial collateral ligament of the knee joint were examined 3-4 weeks after the operation. It was hypothesised that the cut periosteum would not shift with respect to the underlying bone in the normal manner, and that the migration of the tendon and ligament attachments would be reduced. The pectineus tendon reversed its direction of migration in 3 animals, showed histological evidence of modified migration in 8 animals, and no change was discerned in 4 animals. The medial collateral ligament in the operated limb migrated only half as much as that on the sham operated, control limb. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that traction of the periosteum in growing limb bones is responsible for the migration of these tendon and ligament attachments.