THE MUSCLES OF THE LOWER EXTREMITY. 163 



it lies immediately beneath the attenuated, anterior 

 jDortion of the gluteus primus. 



The fibres of the thick and fleshy muscle thus 

 formed fill in the concavity of the pre-acetabular division 

 of the ilium, converge and pass towards the outer aspect 

 of the proximal extremity of the femur, where they 

 become inserted obliquely upon the trochanter of that 

 bone, by a strong tendon, which rides over a bursa on its 

 anterior rim. 



This muscle completely hides from view the gluteus 

 rtiinimus which is found beneath it. 



96. Tlie gluteus minimus'^ is a far smaller muscle 



the lower two-thirds of the posterior border of the iliac fossa in which 

 that muscle is situated, and from the fibrous septum which separates 

 that muscle from the gluteus iii. Further down it has origin also 

 from the whole length of the ridge which separates the postacetabular 

 area from the external lateral surface of the ischium, and which may 

 be termed the postacetabular ridge, as well as from the posterior border 

 of the ischium, as far forwards as its junction with the pubis, being 

 here slightly overlapped by the semitendinosus. The fibres converge 

 towards the knee ; and the deep portion of the muscle blends in its 

 course with the vastus externus, together with which it continues 

 forward to become part of the broad thin tendon which covers the 

 knee and is inserted in the front of the tibia-head, the patella being 

 situated in it, together with the long, slender, and flat tendon of the 

 amhiens muscle, which is situated below it, running obliquely from 

 inside and above, outwards and downwards. In many birds, as the 

 Falconidse and Psittaci, this muscle does not extend below the level 

 of the femur, but ends inferiorly by blending with the vastus 

 externus ; and consequently where such is the case, it evidently 

 cannot, as it does otherwise, cover any of the flexors of the le"". In 

 the Bucerotidse it is entirely absent. Whether this postacetabular 

 portion of the tensor fasciae is present or absent has some bearing on 

 classification, as in the different families it is a very constant 

 feature." 



^ I add below the synonymy of the gluteal muscles from Gadow, 

 which will greatly assist the reader in comparing the muscles I 

 describe in the present work as the gluteus medius and y. mimirnus 



M 2 



