60 ANTHROPOLOGY. 



Fig. 3', complexus; ", trachelo-mastoid ; ', minor, \ major rectus capitis 

 posticus ; ', obliquus capitis, inferior and superior. 



E. Mttscles of the Abdomen and Pelvis. 



The abdominal and pelvic muscles proper may be divided into the super- 

 ficial, consisting of the obliquus externus and internus, transversalis, rectus, 

 and pyramidalis of each side, and the deep-seated, viz. the quadratus lumbo- 

 rum, psoas parvus and magnus, and iliacus internus of each side, and the 

 diaphragm. 



The obliquus externus, or descendens, broad, thin, and somewhat square, 

 extends over the anterior and lateral part of the abdomen. It arises by 

 eight or nine triangular fleshy slips from the lower edges and external 

 surface of the eight or nine inferior ribs at a little distance from their carti- 

 lages; this serrated origin is in the form of a long curved line, the concavity 

 upwards and backwards. The insertion is into the xiphoid cartilage, linea 

 alba, pubes, Poupart's ligament (formed by a thickening and reflection or 

 folding back of the lower fibres of this tendon), and into the anterior 

 superior spinous process of the ilium, also into the outer edge of the two 

 anterior thirds of the crest of the ihum. Use : to depress and abduct the 

 ribs, and to compress the abdominal viscera so as to assist in expiration and 

 in the evacuation of the urine and faeces. The linea alba is a dense liga- 

 mentous cord extending from the ensiform cartilage to the upper part of 

 the symphysis pubis, and is formed by the intimate union and crossing of 

 the tendinous fibres of the two oblique and transverse muscles of opposite 

 sides. The linear semi-lunares extend from the tuberosity of the pubes on 

 each side, about four inches from the linea alba, towards the cartilages of 

 the eighth and ninth ribs. They appear white and somewhat depressed, 

 and are formed by the tendons of the internal oblique, dividing at the edge 

 of each rectus into two layers, to inclose the muscle in a sort of sheath. 

 The Imece transversce are three or four on each side ; they cross the rectus 

 muscle from the linea alba to the linete semi-lunares ; they are tendinous 

 intersections of that muscle, particularly of its anterior part, which adhere 

 so intimately to its sheath as to give the latter this indented appearance. 

 Pouparfs ligament, as already remarked, is the inferior edge of the tendon 

 of the external oblique, thickened and reflected. Considered as a distinct 

 ligament, it may be said to arise from the anterior superior spinous process 

 of the ilium, and passing forwards and inwards, to be inserted into the pubes 

 by two attachments ; one anteriorly into the tuberosity or spine, the other 

 principally into the innominata of the pubes. This second insertion is 

 sometimes known as Gimbernaut's ligament. 



Obliquus internus or ascendens is also situated at the anterior and lateral 

 part of the abdomen, broader before than behind. It arises from the fascia 

 lumborum, from all the crest of the ilium, and from the two external thirds 

 of the grooved or abdominal surface of Poupart's ligament, and is inserted 

 into the cartilages of the four inferior ribs, the xiphoid cartilage, the carti- 

 lage of the seventh and eighth ribs, and the whole length of the linea alba : 

 its tendon conjoined with that of the transversalis is inserted into the 

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