MUSCLES OF THE PELVIC LIMBS. 195 



with the following muscles of the lower leg : the tibialis anterior 

 (Fig. 90, ;/), the extensor longus digitorum (Fig. 90, /), the 

 peroneus longus (Fig. 90, q), and the lateral head of the 

 gastrocnemius (Fig. 90, ;;/). 



Actio)!. — Abductor of the thigh, and flexor of the shank. 



M. tenuissimus or M. abductor cruris (Fig. 90, g). — A 

 very slender muscle, only three or four millimeters wide. 



Origm from the tip of the transverse process of the second 

 caudal vertebra, in common with the caudofcmoralis (Fig. 

 68, s) or gluteus maximus. It passes obliquely beneath the 

 biceps femoris (Fig. 68, /) distad and Ventrad, to t'^e distal end 

 of the ventral border of that muscle. Here it becomes con- 

 tinuous with the ventral border of the biceps, ending in a con- 

 tinuation of the same fascia into which the biceps is inserted. 



Relations. — Outer surface with the caudofcmoralis (Fig. 

 68, s) and the biceps femoris (Fig. 68, /); distad with the 

 integument. Inner surface with the obturator internus (Fig. 

 90, r), quadratus femoris (/"), semitendinosus (y), adductor 

 femoris {li), semimembranosus (/), and distad with the muscles 

 of the lower leg. 



M. caudofemoralis (parameralis, Strauss-Durckheim) (Fig. 

 68, s, page 117). 



Origin by a flat tendon from the transverse processes of the 

 second and third caudal vertebrae. The muscle forms a flat 

 band which passes distad along the middle of the lateral side 

 of the thigh over the pelvis and caudad of the great trochanter. 

 At the middle of the thigh it ends in a very thin tendon. The 

 tendon passes distad along the medial surface of the biceps 

 femoris (Fig. 68, i), pierces the fascia lata near the knee, and 

 passes to its 



Inscj-tion into the mfddle of the lateral border of the patella. 



Relations. — Outer surface with the superficial fascia and a 

 few fibres of the cutaneus maximus; distad with the biceps 

 femoris (Fig. 68, t). Cranial border with the gluteus maxi- 

 mus; caudal border with the biceps femoris. Inner surface 

 with the tenuissimus (Fig. 90, g), the gluteus maximus, the 

 abductor caudse internus, and with the obturator internus (Fig. 

 90, e) ; distad with the vastus lateralis. 



