64 ANATOMY OF THE RABBIT 



39. Semimembranosus m.: Dorsolateral region of ischial 

 tuberosity (Fig. 14, IT); to proximal end of anterior crest of 

 tibia. Flexes crus. It has two parts; the superficial one arises 

 from the general dorsal fascia of the sacrocaudal region and that 

 covering the origin of the adductor longus (40b) ; to crural fascia 

 on medial side of leg, anterior crest of tibia and by a large tendon 

 to the tendon of Achilles. The superficial origin is separated 

 from the deep by the caudal head of the biceps which passes 

 between the two parts of this muscle near its origin on the 

 ischial tuberosity. Transect at a level different from that of the 

 biceps or gracilis. 



40. Adductor femoris mm.: Nearly the whole of the 

 lateroventral surface of pubis and ischium; to femur and knee. 

 The three adductors draw the thigh mediad and caudad, but 

 function principally in propulsion. 



40a. Adductor magnus m.: Ventral part of ischial tuber- 

 osity; to mediodistal end of femur and medial region of knee 

 over the origin of the medial head of gastrocnemius muscle 

 (43). Extends the thigh. Do not transect. This muscle is 

 the most caudad of the adductors. It and the adductor 

 brevis (40c) are usually considered together and called ''adduc- 

 tor femoris" or ''adductor magnus et brevis" in man. The 

 semitendinosus m. (41) is entirely embedded in this muscle. 



40b. Adductor longus m.: Ventral ramus of ischium and 

 caudal portion of symphysis ; to caudal region of distal third of 

 femur, inserting laterad of the origin of the medial head of the 

 gastrocnemius m. (43). Do not transect. 



40c. Adductor brevis m.: Cranial region of symphysis 

 pubis and pubis; to caudomedial part of femur, mainly distad of 

 the lesser trochanter. Do not transect. 



41. Semitendinous m.: Region of ischial tuberosity, within 

 head of adductor magnus (40a); to medial condyle of tibia. 

 Flexes and adducts leg. Method: Expose this muscle by opening 

 the medial side of the adductor magnus m. with the grooved direc- 

 tor, beginning at the insertion tendon of the semitendinosus. Do 

 not transect either the semitendinosus or the adductor magnus. 



