THE RABBIT. 359 



451. The gluteus minimus (gl.mi), exposed by the 

 reflection of the preceding : it arises from the whole gluteal 

 fossa of the ilium from its supra-iliac and iliac borders and 

 from the first sacral vertebra : it is inserted into the great 

 trochanter 



452. The pyriformis (/_>'), a triangular muscle, lying 

 immediately posterior to the gluteus minimus : it arises from 

 the second and third sacral vertebrae, and passes directly out- 

 wards to be inserted into the great trochanter, beneath the 

 insertion of the gluteus medius, and posterior and dorsal to 

 that of the gluteus minimus : divide and reflect : also detach 

 the gluteus minimus from its origin and reflect. 



453. The quadratus femoris (q.fai), a small stout 

 muscle lying parallel to the inner edge of the adductor 

 longus : it arises from the tuber ischii, and is inserted into 

 the posterior (ventral) side of the shaft of the femur at about 

 the level of the third trochanter : divide and reflect. 



454. The obturator internus (<;/>./), a flat muscle 

 arising from the dorsal or inner aspect of the obturator 

 foramen, and passing first upwards, then outwards and for- 

 wards, to be inserted into the trochanteric fossa : to see its 

 origin the caudal vertebrae should be pressed aside. 



455. The gemelli, two very small muscles in connection \vith the 

 preceding : the gemellus anterior (gtn.a) arises from the dorsal edge 

 of the ischium and partly covers the anterior edge of the obturator 

 internus ; the gemellus posterior (gl.p) arises from the tuber ischii 

 and covers its posterior border : both are inserted into the tendon of the 

 obturator internus. 



456. The obturator externus, arising from the outer 

 or ventral aspect of the obturator foramen, and inserted by a 

 strong tendon into the trochanteric fossa : detach the 



O 



obturatores from their origin and reflect. 



