128 THE OSTEOLOGY AND MYOLOGY 



curious manner by its virtual insertion into the tibia instead of the fibula, just as one part 

 of the biceps of the arm is inserted into the ulna instead of the radius. 



Pectineus. — (Fig. 31, g.) This is the smallest, shortest and uppermost of the adductorial 

 set. It is a somewhat flattened fusiform muscle, arising by a very short, terete tendon from 

 the outer border of the base of the marsupial bone, and inserted by a short, thin tendon, 

 an inch broad, into the posterior aspect of the femur for a corresponding distance below the 

 trochanter minor. It is a true adductor of the thigh ; acting from the femur it draws the 

 marsupial bone out from the belly and away from its fellow, antagonizing the pyramidalis. 

 Sometimes it is double, i. e., may be separated into two perfectly distinct parallel slips, with 

 common origin, and directly continuous insertion. Its origin may be indicative of analogy, 

 if not homology, between the marsupial bone and the " linea ilio-pectinea " of man. 



Adductor par vies. — (Fig. 31, h.) The shortest of the three, but rather more bulky than 

 the longus, which it separates from the magnus in one plane, and from the pectineus in 

 another. It arises fleshy from the symphysis and border of the ramus of the pubis, sepa- 

 rated from the extreme margin of the bone by the origin of the gracilis and the pubo- 

 marsupial articulation, occujiies the distance between the marsupial bone and the origin of 

 the longus, and is overlaid in most of its extent by the pectineus and gracilis. Its 

 short, thin, flat tendon, nearly an inch wide, is inserted into the femur between the pec- 

 tineus and the longus. This muscle is the most decidedly adductorial of the three. 



Adductor longus. — (Fig. 31, i.) A long, narrow, flat slip, lying in the same plane with 

 the preceding, with the border of which it is in complete apposition. It arises from the sym- 

 physis pubis along the space between the origins of the preceding and following muscle, and 

 is overlaid, in most of its extent, by the broad gracilis. It is inserted fleshy into the back 

 part of the femur, from the insertion of the pectineus to within an inch of the inner condyle. 



Adductor viagnus. — (Fig. 31, h.) Much the largest of the three, forming a complete 

 fleshy septum between the pubic and ischiatic sets of muscles. It is trapezoidal in outline ; 

 its lower border is much thickened. It arises from the whole of the lower border of the 

 pelvis, from the tuberosity of the ischium to the symphysis pubis, along which extent its 

 origin is overlaid successively by the biceps, semitendinosus, semimembranosus and gracilis. 

 It is inserted fleshy into the whole length of the femur from a point opposite the trochanter 

 minor, or just at the insertion of the quadratus, to the origin of the inner gastrocnemius. 

 It is more of an extensor than adductor of the thigh. It may frequently be partially sep- 

 arated into two or three flattened bundles. In fact, the three adductors, having a contin- 

 uous origin and insertion, and parallel contiguous course, appear in some instances to 

 exchange fasciculi with each other. With exercise of the same care in dissecting in each 

 instance, I have on several occasions worked out these muscles a little differently. The 

 longus appears most variable, as it holds an intermediate position. The usual condition is 

 as above described. 



The noteworthy features of the muscles of the leg are numerous and interesting. The 

 general disposition relates unequivocally to those rotatory movements that are equivalent 

 to pronation and supination of the member, and to that grasping power of the extremity 

 that transforms the latter to a true "hand." The muscles display the pedimanous charac- 

 ter of the beast as clearly as does the nature of the articulation at the knee, ankle, or toe. 

 There are two gastrocnemii, perfectly distinct from each other, with separate tendons and 

 different insertions. The soleus is confined to the external gastrocnemius ; it has no proper 



