FASCLE OF THE LEG. 243 



the femoral artery and vein, together with the internal saphenous 

 nerve. 



lid at ion!). — This muscle is in contact in front -svitli the long raid short adductors, 

 tlie vastus internus, the obtm-ator nerve, and the profunda artery, behind with 

 the hamstring muscles, gluteus maximus, and great sciatic nerve, internally with 

 the gi-acilis muscle, superiorly Tvith the obtm-ator extemus and quadratus f emoris 

 muscles, and along the line of attachment to the femur it is pierced by the 

 femoral and perforating arteries. 



Varieties. — The adductor muscles are so closely related that their varieties may 

 be conveniently considered together. The jx'cti jichs has been foirad double, as 

 ah-eady stated. It has also been seen attached to the capsule of the hip-joint, or 

 even inserted into it. The adductor loiujus may be double, or it may extend as 

 far as the knee with its tendon of insertion inseparable from that of tlie adductor 

 magnus. The adductor hrrrls is frequently found divided into tvv^o or three 

 parts, or it may be incoi"porated with the adductor magnus. The adductor mar/mi.'i 

 varies in the degree of its segmentation. Its condjdar part has been found quite 

 distinct from the rest of the muscle. The upper transverse part is so frequently 

 divided from the rest by the superior profmida artery, that it is looked upon 

 biy some anatomists as a special muscle, being called the adductor miiiimii.s' 

 (Henle. Gilnther. Macalister). On the other hand, the muscle has been found 

 undi\-ided, and its upper part completely united to the quadi-atus femoris (Mac- 

 alister). 



Nerves. — The adductor muscles as a whole are supplied by the obturator 

 nerve, but the adductor magnus likewise receives a branch from the gi-eat sciatic, 

 and the outer pdrt of the pectineus sometimes has a branch from the anterior 

 crural. 



Actions. — The graciUs acts as an adductor of the limb. Tlie gi-acilis, semi- 

 tendinosus, semimembranosi^s, and sartorius muscles, together with the i^opliteus, 

 all rotate the leg inwards at the knee-joint ; the latter muscle acting chiefly in 

 the flexed state of the knee. 



The j^ccfi'ii'ii-^ is partly a flexor and partly an adductor. 



The addiictordi magnux, lo/igiis, and brcris, adduct the thigh, and, along with 

 theii- opponents the gluteus medius and minimus, and with the gluteus maximus, 

 J^alance the body on the femiu- in walking. 



The ilio-jmias and the adductor muscles, together with the pectineus, being all 

 inserted at the back part of the femm-, tend to rotate the thigh outwards at the 

 same time that they lu-oduce their- adducting and flexing actions. The advan- 

 tage of this preponderance of rotators outwards over rotators inwards becomes 

 aijparent by reference to the movements which take i^lace in walking, ^\'hen a 

 step is taken, the pelvis is drawax forwards on that side on which the foot has 

 been advanced, which involves a considerable rotation of the j)ch-is hachvards at 

 the ether liip-joint, by the action of the muscles of the opposite limb. 



muscle: S AND FASCIJE OF THE LEG AND FOOT. 

 ANTERIOR REGION. 



Fasci.E. — The aponeurosis of tlie leg is particularly dense in the 

 upper and fore part, and is strengthened by fibres from the tendons of 

 the biceps externally, and the sartorius, gracilis, and semimembranosus 

 internally. Behind, over the popliteal space, it consists of strong 

 transverse fibres, which bind together the muscles of the outer and 

 inner sides, and is perforated at the lower part of the space by the 

 external saphenous vein ; lower down it becomes much thinner over 

 the gastrocnemius muscle. The fascia is adherent to the periosteum 



R 2 



