REPORT OX THE SPHENISCID.E. Ill 



posterior border of the sartorius backwards to the level of the acetabulum. The fibres 

 descend almost vertically, and terminate on a flattened tendon common to this muscle 

 and to the tensor fasciae femoris, that portion of the tendon which receives the fibres of 

 the rectus femoris passing to be inserted along with the subjacent inner portion of the 

 extensor cruris into the truncated upper end of the patella. 



Action. — This muscle flexes the hip and extends the knee joint. In both of these 

 actions it co-operates with the sartorius. 



Relations. — Superficial throughout, it rests upon the gluteus medius and extensor 

 cruris. Its anterior border is separated by an interval from the sartorius, while its 

 posterior border coalesces with the gluteus maximus. 



Nerve sxiiyply. — A branch of the anterior crural which, after winding in front of the 

 extensor cruris, enters the deeper surface of the muscle. 



3. Tensor fascice femoris 



Le grand fessier, Vioq d'Azyr, 1774, p. 494, No. 3. 



Der breite Schenkehmiskel (posterior part of), Wiedemann, p. 94. 



Der breite Schenkelmuskel (posterior part of), Tiedemann, p. 331, No. 2. 



Grand fessier, Meckel, vol. vi. p. 89, No. 1. 



Tensor vagince et rectus femoris (posterior part of), Owen, p. 3.5. 



Tensor vagince femoris (posterior part of), Reid, p. 143. 



Tensor vagince femoris, Selenka, vol. vi. p. 142, No. 84. 



Grand fessier, Gervais and Alix, p. 30. 



Attachments. — This muscle forms the posterior portion of the musculo-aponeurotic 

 sheet on the outer side of the thigh, the anterior portion of which is formed by the 

 rectus femoris. It arises by means of a fascial tendon from the coalesced spinous 

 processes of the lumbo-sacral vertebrae directly above the acetabulum, as well as from the 

 neighbouring border of the ischium. The fibres pass dowmwards, and terminate on an 

 aponeurosis common to this and to the preceding muscle, that portion of the tendon 

 which receives the fibres of the tensor fasciae being inserted along with the subjacent 

 outer portion of the extensor cruris into the outer side of the patella, as well as into the 

 upper end of the external anterior tibial crest. 



Action. — This muscle extends the hip and flexes the knee joint. It is thus the 

 autaa:onist of the sartorius and rectus femoris. 



Relations. — The posterior border is in contact with the biceps, whilst anteriorly it is 

 continuous, both at its origin and insertion, with the rectus femoris. 



Nerve supply. — This muscle is supplied by the same nerve that supplies the rectus 

 femoris. 



Remarks. — According to Garrod,^ the post-acetabular portion of the tensor fasciae 



1 Proc. Zool. Soc. Lend., 1873, p. 643. 



