168 COUES ON THE OSTEOLOGY 



given off from the femur, (to be more particularly described hereafter,) by which its direc- 

 tion is changed ; now passing with a considerable degree of obliquity downwards, it is 

 inserted into a tubercle on the outer aspect of the fibula, one and a half inches below the 

 knee-joint. 



A direct and powerful flexor of the leg. In the passage of its tendon through the 

 fibrous loop, and the consequent change in the direction of the line of traction, is seen a 

 beautiful mechanism by which the force of the stroke as well as the extent of motion 

 is increased when the backward movement of the leg is nearly completed ; i. e., at the 

 moment when the most vigorous impulse is requisite. This muscle is doubtless the biceps 

 flexor, from its insertion and mode of action, though there is nothing at all bicipital in its 

 shape. 



Gliitcei. Filling the concave dorsum of the ilium, and lying close along the spine, is 

 a mass of muscular tissue, which on its vertebral aspect is intimately blended with the 

 spinal muscles ]n - oper, and with which some of its fibres appear superiorly continuous. 

 I found it impossible to determine exactly the limits of the attachments of this muscle. 

 It is incompletely divisible into two portions, which are however intimately united anteri- 

 orly. The largest of these — that nearest the spinal column — passes backwards to be 

 inserted into the great trochanter ; the other lies nearly parallel, but its tendon is inserted 

 further down on the outer and anterior aspect of the femur. 



The first of these muscles evidently rotates the femur inwax'ds. The other is directly in 

 the line of flexion ; and though it cannot have much power, from its high insertion into 

 the femur, it probably aids to flex, and somewhat inverts that bone. These muscles seem 

 from their position and insertion, to be the gtutccus medias and minimus, though from 

 the peculiar shape of the parts, their actions are not identical with those of the human 

 species. 



The muscle which probably represents the glidceus maximus is quite distinct from the 

 others and smaller than either of them ; and from the elongated shape of the pelvis, is 

 entirely caudad of the femur, instead of lying in the same region and obliquely in the same 

 plane with the other glutei. It is a small flattish muscle, one and a half inches wide, lying 

 close along the sacrum, on the pelvis, from an inch above the tuber ischii, to the femur. 

 Its tendon runs forwards and obliquely outwards from the spine, to be inserted into a 

 tubercle on the externo-posterior aspect of the femur, just below the trochanter, and just 

 opposite the insertion of the above described glidceus minimus. The whole origin and infe- 

 rior surface of the muscle is fleshy; but its tendon of insertion continues along its external 

 surface to within an inch of its origin. 



As in the human species, this muscle extends and everts the thigh. It directly antago- 

 nizes the glidceus minimus. 



Obturator. The obturator foramen is filled by a muscle which arises from its whole cir- 

 cumference, lying between two layers of fascia?. The small rounded tendon of this muscle 

 runs forwards to be inserted into the posterior aspect of the great trochanter. It directly 

 rotates the thigh outwards. 



Crurceus. A large muscular mass, lying upon the anterior aspect of the femur. Instead 

 of converging to a tendon for its connection with the tibia, it has a very extensive muscular 

 attachment to the posterior face of the whole length of the tibial spine that projects above 

 the knee-joint. 



This is the direct extensor of the leg. Although so short, only as long as the short 



