MUSCLES OF THE RIGHT INFERIOR LIMB 63 



resistance from the gluteus medius muscle, adjust this instru- 

 ment to a point about midway of the rectus femoris muscle 

 (42c), then slit open the fascia lata and the tensor muscle 

 (35) to the belly of the gluteus medius (which is a large, thick 

 triangular muscle arising on the ilium and sacrum and inserting 

 onto the greater trochanter of the femur) . Explore the region 

 and continue one leg of the Y-shaped incision craniad along the 

 belly of the gluteus medius and the other leg of the Y caudad 

 about one inch, but not quite to a point dorsad of the greater 

 trochanter. The gluteus maximus m. (36) will be mutilated 

 unless care is used in making the caudal leg of the Y-shaped 

 incision. Transect over the midcranial border of ^he vastus 

 lateralis m. (42a). 



7^6. Gluteus. maximus m.: Sacrocaudal vertebrae; to lateral 

 trochanter. The caudal head draws the thigh caudad and lat- 

 erad in both man and the rabbit, while the cranial head draws 

 the thigh craniodorsad. The wide, thin cranial head of this 

 muscle arises with the tensor fasciae latae m. (35) from the 

 lumbar fascia, and a thin fan-shaped caudal portion, which 

 lies under the cranial margin of the long head of the biceps 

 femoris m. (^^) and over the caudal end of the gluteus medius, 

 and arises from the sacrum and first caudal vertebra. The 

 gluteus maximus forms most of the buttock in man, notwith- 

 standing the fact that its origin and insertion are very much as 

 in the rabbit. 



37. Sartorius m.: Inguinal hgament; to patellar ligament 

 and crural fascia, with the broad tendon of the gracihs muscle. 

 The sartorius is fused with the cranial border of the distal half of 

 the gracihs m. {t,S) which it assists in adducting and possibly in 

 flexing the thigh. 



38. Gracilis (adductor gracihs) m.: Ventral surface of 

 ischiopubal symphysis and ventrum of ischium with fibers of 

 adductor femoris mm. (40) ; to crural fascia on proximomedial 

 side of leg. Adducts thigh. This is a thin, wide, subcutaneous 

 muscle and is the homologue of the epitrochlearis of the superior 

 limb (p. 55). 



